Verdict in PTI foreign funding case reserved

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its verdict in the much-delayed prohibited funding case — previously referred to as the foreign funding case — against the PTI.

The case, which was filed by party founding member Akbar S Babar, has been pending since Nov 14, 2014. Babar, who is no longer associated with PTI, had alleged serious financial irregularities in the party's funding from Pakistan and abroad.

The PTI has denied any wrongdoing, and maintains the funding is not from prohibited sources.

A bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja presided over today's hearing. CEC Raja remarked that the case against the PTI had concluded, adding that the electoral watchdog also wanted to conclude the cases against other political parties.

He went on to say that the ECP wanted to restore voter confidence and strengthen the country democratically. At the conclusion of the hearing, the commission reserved its verdict in the case but CEC Raja said that the respondents could be summoned again if need be.

During today's hearing, petitioner Babar's financial expert, Arsalan Wardak, pointed out that it was an "established fact" that money was received from Britain. He also highlighted that no one was aware of the origins of the money received from Canada.

"Funds were received from Wootton Cricket Limited for which the registration number has been provided. Another $49,000 dollars were received from another company in the United Arab Emirates," he said, adding that the PTI did not deny receiving these funds.

The financial expert also highlighted that the donor lists were missing several details. "The PTI received funds from 13 countries [...] There is no record of the Rs20 million received at the PTI chairman's office," he said.

Wardak said that 41 of the 50 banks did not respond to the scrutiny committee's inquiries, pointing out the possibility of more accounts existing. The PTI ignored the principles and the standards of auditing, he alleged.

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PM summons fedral cabinet meeting today

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned the federal cabinet meeting to be held today (Tuesday) in Islamabad to discuss economic and political situation in the country

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the federal cabinet meeting to be held at the Prime Minister’s office. The cabinet will discuss a seven-point agenda during the meeting.

According to sources, a decision regarding the prices of medicines is part of the agenda of the cabinet meeting while the cabinet will also ratify the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

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PM summons fedral cabinet meeting today

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned the federal cabinet meeting to be held today (Tuesday) in Islamabad to discuss economic and political situation in the country

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the federal cabinet meeting to be held at the Prime Minister’s office. The cabinet will discuss a seven-point agenda during the meeting.

According to sources, a decision regarding the prices of medicines is part of the agenda of the cabinet meeting while the cabinet will also ratify the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

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No candidate would be allowed to carry personal security and weapons:Ata Tarar

Punjab Home Minister Ata Tarar has vowed to ensure law and order situation during by-elections in the province, saying that no candidate would be allowed to carry personal security and weapons

According to details, the provincial minister chaired the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Home Affairs on the law and order situation at Civil Secretariat Lahore.

The meeting was attended by Law Minister Malik Ahmed Khan, Health Minister Salman Rafique, Chief Secretary Home, Inspector-General (IG) Punjab and CCPO Lahore.

Speaking during the meeting, Ata Tarar said in the light of the Election Commission’s Code of Conduct, that non-discriminatory action should be taken against those who carry weapons.

The minister said all candidates contesting the by-elections will be provided police security by the Punjab government and no one will be allowed to carry personal security and weapons during the election campaign.

Atta Tarar further said that the increase in incidents of abuse of women and children was alarming, adding that such incidents were unacceptable and the culprits should be arrested soon.

It is pertinent to mention here that before the by-elections, several people were injured in an exchange of fire between workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The ECP has announced the schedule for election on 20 provincial seats vacated after defecting MPAs of the PTI were de-seated. The candidates will be announced as election symbols on June 24, while polling will be held on July 17.

The ECP had de-seated 25 dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPAs who voted for PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz Sharif in Punjab chief minister’s election

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No candidate would be allowed to carry personal security and weapons:Ata Tarar

Punjab Home Minister Ata Tarar has vowed to ensure law and order situation during by-elections in the province, saying that no candidate would be allowed to carry personal security and weapons

According to details, the provincial minister chaired the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Home Affairs on the law and order situation at Civil Secretariat Lahore.

The meeting was attended by Law Minister Malik Ahmed Khan, Health Minister Salman Rafique, Chief Secretary Home, Inspector-General (IG) Punjab and CCPO Lahore.

Speaking during the meeting, Ata Tarar said in the light of the Election Commission’s Code of Conduct, that non-discriminatory action should be taken against those who carry weapons.

The minister said all candidates contesting the by-elections will be provided police security by the Punjab government and no one will be allowed to carry personal security and weapons during the election campaign.

Atta Tarar further said that the increase in incidents of abuse of women and children was alarming, adding that such incidents were unacceptable and the culprits should be arrested soon.

It is pertinent to mention here that before the by-elections, several people were injured in an exchange of fire between workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The ECP has announced the schedule for election on 20 provincial seats vacated after defecting MPAs of the PTI were de-seated. The candidates will be announced as election symbols on June 24, while polling will be held on July 17.

The ECP had de-seated 25 dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPAs who voted for PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz Sharif in Punjab chief minister’s election

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Punjab will introduce stricter laws to curb rape case

Punjab will introduce stricter laws and declare an ‘emergency’ to curb the rising trend of rape cases.

Punjab Home Minister Ataullah Tarar and Law Minister Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan told a joint press conference here on Sunday that a cabinet committee on law and order met under the chair of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif the other day and expressed its concern over the increase in rape cases for the last over three years.

The body decided to introduce a set of legislations to make stricter punishments for rape and set up a dedicated helpline for the victims, they said. An emergency would be declared on rape cases to proceed against the accused on a war footing as a cabinet committee would begin functioning on Monday (today) to overlook all these measures, they said, adding the role of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency would be improved for sampling of DNA on a fast track basis and a meeting with the lab authorities was scheduled later in the evening.

They said the civil society, teachers, lawyers and other segments of society and agencies working for women and children in the province would be consulted on all the issues and the process would be completed within a fortnight. They said the family and society would have to play their respective roles in protecting the children from sexual abuse.

They urged the parents never to leave their children alone as in most cases close relatives and neighbours were found involved in abusing the children. They said a special awareness campaign would be run, while students would also be sensitised in schools about sexual harassment.

Tarar alleged that the law and order situation in the province worsened under the PTI as police officers were posted after accepting bribe worth tens of millions of rupees. He said a list of the officers posted on the recommendation of Farah Gujjar, a friend of Bushra Bibi, had been prepared and they would be replaced with ‘upright’ officers on merit.

He hailed the Punjab inspector-general of police, saying he was a dutiful officer and a good policy-maker.

Responding to a query, he regretted that taking drugs had become a fashion in elite schools and colleges and that’s also contributing to the rise in the crime graph.

Law minister Ahmad Khan told a questioner that Speaker Parvez Elahi was continuing to hold an ‘unconstitutional’ Punjab Assembly session, while the one being conducted on the summoning of the governor was a constitutional one.

About grant of PML-N tickets to the PTI disgruntled leaders in the July 17 by-polls for 20 Punjab Assembly seats, he said only those had been awarded the PML-N ticket who had been de-seated by the Election Commission for voting against party lines in the election for the office of the chief minister on April 16.

He said the government was trying to hold the by-polls in a peaceful manner and would disallow the use of arms by any party.

In the wake of an armed attack on Nazeer Chohan, the PML-N candidate for a Lahore seat, he said private guards would be provided to the candidates in all the constituencies where the by-polls were being conducted, so that none could say that by providing police guards the government was showing its support for specific candidates.

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Punjab will introduce stricter laws to curb rape case

Punjab will introduce stricter laws and declare an ‘emergency’ to curb the rising trend of rape cases.

Punjab Home Minister Ataullah Tarar and Law Minister Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan told a joint press conference here on Sunday that a cabinet committee on law and order met under the chair of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif the other day and expressed its concern over the increase in rape cases for the last over three years.

The body decided to introduce a set of legislations to make stricter punishments for rape and set up a dedicated helpline for the victims, they said. An emergency would be declared on rape cases to proceed against the accused on a war footing as a cabinet committee would begin functioning on Monday (today) to overlook all these measures, they said, adding the role of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency would be improved for sampling of DNA on a fast track basis and a meeting with the lab authorities was scheduled later in the evening.

They said the civil society, teachers, lawyers and other segments of society and agencies working for women and children in the province would be consulted on all the issues and the process would be completed within a fortnight. They said the family and society would have to play their respective roles in protecting the children from sexual abuse.

They urged the parents never to leave their children alone as in most cases close relatives and neighbours were found involved in abusing the children. They said a special awareness campaign would be run, while students would also be sensitised in schools about sexual harassment.

Tarar alleged that the law and order situation in the province worsened under the PTI as police officers were posted after accepting bribe worth tens of millions of rupees. He said a list of the officers posted on the recommendation of Farah Gujjar, a friend of Bushra Bibi, had been prepared and they would be replaced with ‘upright’ officers on merit.

He hailed the Punjab inspector-general of police, saying he was a dutiful officer and a good policy-maker.

Responding to a query, he regretted that taking drugs had become a fashion in elite schools and colleges and that’s also contributing to the rise in the crime graph.

Law minister Ahmad Khan told a questioner that Speaker Parvez Elahi was continuing to hold an ‘unconstitutional’ Punjab Assembly session, while the one being conducted on the summoning of the governor was a constitutional one.

About grant of PML-N tickets to the PTI disgruntled leaders in the July 17 by-polls for 20 Punjab Assembly seats, he said only those had been awarded the PML-N ticket who had been de-seated by the Election Commission for voting against party lines in the election for the office of the chief minister on April 16.

He said the government was trying to hold the by-polls in a peaceful manner and would disallow the use of arms by any party.

In the wake of an armed attack on Nazeer Chohan, the PML-N candidate for a Lahore seat, he said private guards would be provided to the candidates in all the constituencies where the by-polls were being conducted, so that none could say that by providing police guards the government was showing its support for specific candidates.

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