ECP notifies delimitation of constituencies for local govt polls in Islamabad

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday notified the schedule for delimitation of constituencies for the local government elections in Islamabad.

According to the notification issued by the ECP, the preliminary list of union councils/wards will be prepared in 30 days from Nov 25 to Dec 24 and will be displayed on Dec 27.

The notification stated that from Dec 28 to Jan 11, voters could file objections before the delimitation authority, adding after completion of various stages, a final list of the constituencies will be published on Feb 3, 2022.

It is relevant to note that after pointing out the non-serious approach of the federal government in holding the local government elections in Islamabad, the ECP on Monday had stated that if the required data and notifications were not provided to the commission within 10 days for delimitation of new UCs, the commission shall initiate the delimitation process on the already notified UCs.
The term of the local government in the capital expired in February this year and the ECP was supposed to hold the new elections within 120 days, but the elections could not be held on time.

The process of delimitation began but was halted in July when the interior ministry withdrew its notification regarding the UCs.

In August, the ministry stated that in view of the increase in population after the census results, the government intended to increase the number of UCs in the capital territory and spadework was underway to enact the new Local Government Act.

The government is yet to get the Act passed from parliament. In the last elections, Islamabad had 50 UCs and now the government wants to increase the number to 100.

A government official said a draft bill had been finalised and soon it would be presented before parliament for approval.

The first ever local government elections in Islamabad were held in November 2015 which were clinched by the then ruling party PML-N with majority.

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ECP notifies delimitation of constituencies for local govt polls in Islamabad

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday notified the schedule for delimitation of constituencies for the local government elections in Islamabad.

According to the notification issued by the ECP, the preliminary list of union councils/wards will be prepared in 30 days from Nov 25 to Dec 24 and will be displayed on Dec 27.

The notification stated that from Dec 28 to Jan 11, voters could file objections before the delimitation authority, adding after completion of various stages, a final list of the constituencies will be published on Feb 3, 2022.

It is relevant to note that after pointing out the non-serious approach of the federal government in holding the local government elections in Islamabad, the ECP on Monday had stated that if the required data and notifications were not provided to the commission within 10 days for delimitation of new UCs, the commission shall initiate the delimitation process on the already notified UCs.
The term of the local government in the capital expired in February this year and the ECP was supposed to hold the new elections within 120 days, but the elections could not be held on time.

The process of delimitation began but was halted in July when the interior ministry withdrew its notification regarding the UCs.

In August, the ministry stated that in view of the increase in population after the census results, the government intended to increase the number of UCs in the capital territory and spadework was underway to enact the new Local Government Act.

The government is yet to get the Act passed from parliament. In the last elections, Islamabad had 50 UCs and now the government wants to increase the number to 100.

A government official said a draft bill had been finalised and soon it would be presented before parliament for approval.

The first ever local government elections in Islamabad were held in November 2015 which were clinched by the then ruling party PML-N with majority.

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7 refugees die in minibus crash in Greece

At least seven refugees died in northeastern Greece when a minibus carrying them crashed early on Friday, local media reported.

The vehicle carrying 15 people was traveling on the Egnatia Odos highway from the country's northeastern border with Turkey towards the northern port city of Thessaloniki when it crashed just after midnight, said Greek public broadcaster ERT, citing local police sources.

Police said that the vehicle had been traveling at high speed and that the driver, also thought to be a human smuggler, lost control as he tried to exit the highway, hitting a toll booth and then crashing into an adjoining storage container, ERT noted.

The victims of the crash were transported to public hospitals in the northeastern provinces of Komotini and Xanthi, including eight people -- one of them being the driver -- who hada been injured.

A preliminary investigation has been launched into the incident, added ERT.

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VP Kamala Harris to become first woman to get presidential powers as Biden undergoes health check

President Joe Biden will transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris during the “brief” time on Friday he is under anaesthesia for a colonoscopy as part of a regular health check, the White House said.

Biden, the oldest person to hold the presidency in US history, went to the Walter Reed Medical Centre just outside of Washington early Friday on the eve of his 79th birthday.

The White House described the appointment as Biden's “routine annual physical”. It was his first since taking office in January.

During a colonoscopy examination, Biden will be anaesthetised and as in past practice, the vice-president will assume power, which includes control over the US armed forces and the nuclear weapons arsenal.

“President Biden will transfer power to the vice-president for the brief period of time when he is under anaesthesia. The vice president will work from her office in the West Wing during this time,” Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

Harris, 57, is the first woman to hold the vice presidency and made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic Party nomination in 2020, before being picked as Biden's running mate.

Psaki noted that a similar temporary transfer of power, “following the process set out in the Constitution”, had been carried out when president George W. Bush underwent the same procedure in 2002 and 2007.

Psaki said that a written “summary” of the findings from the president's exam would be released “later this afternoon”.

Any details on Biden's health are sure to be closely watched, given speculation on whether he will stand by his stated intention to seek a second term in 2024. Biden pledged before his election a year ago to be “totally transparent” with voters about all aspects of his health.

'Vigorous'

In a letter released by his election campaign in December 2019, Biden's physician had described him as “a healthy, vigorous, 77-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency”.

Biden does not smoke or drink, and prior to his election worked out at least five days per week, according to the letter.

He was vaccinated early on against Covid-19, and received a booster shot in September.

The health check comes at a crucial moment in his presidency, with the House of Representatives adopting Biden's huge “Build Back Better” social spending agenda.

Earlier this week, Biden signed into law another package to fund the biggest national infrastructure revamp in more than half a century.

The twin victories come after weeks of falling approval ratings for Biden and setbacks for his Democratic party ahead of next year's midterm elections when the Republicans are widely predicted to take control of at least the lower house of Congress.

After returning from hospital, Biden was due to participate in the annual tradition of issuing a presidential “pardon” to a turkey, with the bird being spared from next week's Thanksgiving meals. He was then due to fly to his family home in Delaware for the weekend.

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‘It’s time to panic’: Bilawal vows to defeat PTI in its stronghold K-P

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday fired a broadside at Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that his party will defeat the ruling PTI in its political stronghold of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) in next general elections.

“PPP jiyalas [workers] will foil your [PM Imran] conspiracies… they will hold ‘selected and puppet’ accountable,” said the scion of Bhutto family while addressing a rally in Nowshera district of K-P.

In his fiery speech, Bilawal warned PM Imran, saying, “The time to panic has started… PPP will hold a power show in Peshawar to mark its foundation day”.

He said the party will send the incumbent government packing and restore the rule of genuine public representatives.

Bilawal said PM Imran-led government was not any making effort to reduce inflation in the country instead it was only “conspiring to rig” the next general elections.

The PPP chairman while referring to Wednesday’s joint session of parliament said the government did not pass a single bill to provide relief to the masses. “70-year-old player can no longer fool youngsters,” he added.

Bilawal said PM Imran’s policies have only brought “destruction” to the country and added that ruling party has miserably failed to fulfil its promises of bringing a “change” in the country.

“Today everyone is in pain… country is facing unprecedented inflation... unemployment and poverty have hit historic highs,” he remarked.

Bilawal said only PPP can resolve the issues of masses by implementing its people-friendly manifesto.

“When they [rulers] are being selected... they will only server their [selectors] not the people,” he added.

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US to buy 10m courses of Pfizer’s pill for $5.3bn

Pfizer Inc said on Thursday the US government would pay $5.29 billion for 10 million courses of its experimental Covid anti-viral drug.

The deal is for around twice as many treatment courses as Merck & Co Inc has agreed to supply the United States under its contract. The price for the Pfizer pill is nearly 25 percent lower at roughly $530 per course, compared with about $700 for Merck’s.

Pfizer applied for emergency authorisation of the drug, branded as Paxlovid, this week after reporting data showing that it was 89 percent effective at preventing hospitalisation or death in at-risk people.

“While this pill still requires a full review by the Food and Drug Administration, I have taken immediate steps to secure enough supply for the American people,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

He added that his administration was making preparations to ensure the treatment is easily accessible and free. Getting vaccinated should still be the priority for Americans but having pills that can keep people out of the hospital “could be a lifesaver”, said US Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra.

Pfizer has said it expects to manufacture 180,000 treatment courses by the end of next month and at least 50 million courses by the end of next year.

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KSE-100 makes gains despite monetary policy jitters

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) posted modest gains during the pre-monetary policy announcement session, finishing the trading week in the green.

Investors looked for shares at attractive valuations after sustained selling for the last two days opened some windows.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was set to announce a new benchmark interest rate towards the end of the session, where most believed the policy rate would be increased.

Later, in line with market expectations, the central bank increased its benchmark policy rate by 150 basis points to 8.75% for the next two months.

News that technology exports were up 29% (year-on-year) in October lent support to the technology sector.

The stock market kicked off trading on a positive note and remained in the green for most of the first session. However, it receded after trading resumed in the second half, and the KSE-100 index dived but losses were recouped towards the end of the session.

At close, the benchmark KSE-100 index had risen by 378.91 points, or 0.82%, to close at 46,489.41.

Shares of 356 companies were traded. At close of trading, 215 scrips closed in the green, 123 in the red, and 18 remained unchanged.

Overall trading volumes rose to 304.2 million shares compared with Thursday’s tally of 263.5 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs12 billion.

Ghani Global Holdings was the volume leader with 33.9 million shares traded, gaining Rs0.45 to close at Rs33.68. It was followed by Service Fabrics with 17.9 million shares traded, gaining Rs0.06 to close at Rs12.93, and First National Equities with 14.85 million shares traded, gaining Re1 to close at Rs11.23.

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