AHD News Network | Current ! Breaking News | National ! World Updates: June 2018

Thursday, June 28, 2018

PPP’s Manzoor Wassan’s nomination papers rejected from PS-27

SUKKUR: An appellate tribunal on Monday rejected Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Manzoor Wassan’s nomination papers for PS- 27 Khairpur.

Mir Zaheer Talpur, a member of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), had filed an appeal against Wassan’s nomination papers with the returning officer over undeclared assets in Dubai.

According to Wassan, he had declared everything in his nomination papers and was not sure why his papers were rejected.

Wassan added, he would consult with the Sindh High Court over the matter of his nomination papers' rejection.

Tribunal rejects nomination papers of Nisar Khuhro for PS-11 and Fawad from NA-67

SUKKUR: The appellate election tribunal dismissed on Wednesday former Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Nisar Khuhro's nomination papers for PS-11 (Larkana II).

Pakistan Peoples Party has issued a party ticket for Khuhro for PS-11 constituency for the forthcoming general election scheduled for July 25.

Khuhro's nomination papers were rejected because he listed two wives and four children as his dependent, instead of three wives.

The PPP leader failed to list a wife and a daughter as his dependents and did not mention a 166-acre land in his nomination papers, the tribunal noted.

While reacting to this, Khuhro remarked that he will file an appeal against the decision of the tribunal.

"I did not hide anything in the nomination papers," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry’s nomination papers were rejected from his home constituency of NA-67, Jhelum.

The election tribunal was hearing an appeal against the acceptance of Chaudhry’s nomination papers by the returning officer, filed by Justice and Democratic Party’s Fakhar Abbas Kazmi.

Kazmi had objected, saying that Chaudhry had not paid agriculture tax on his land. He had also stated that the PTI leader’s name on his identity card was listed as ‘Fawad Ahmad’.

Speaking to the media after the judgment, the PTI leader said, “The basis of today’s decision is to influence my election campaign.”

“The decision is not based on merit,” he said.

Qamar-ul-Islam's 11-year-old son expresses hope his father will win against Nisar

https://www.geo.tv/latest/200971-independent-candidates-have-no-value-says-qamar-ul-islams-12-year-old-son

RAWALPINDI: The 12-year-old son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Qamar-ul-Islam Raja kicked off his father's election campaign on Wednesday.

The 12-year-old began the campaign two days after his father was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Lahore in connection with Punjab Saaf Pani Company corruption case.

Islam, who is PML-N’s ticket holder from NA-59 Rawalpindi-III and is contesting against former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar, is accused of having awarded contracts for 84 water treatment plants at a higher price.

Addressing constituents today, the 12-year-old said, "I have been asked by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz to start our election campaign."

"They have asked me to focus on the campaign despite hurdles," he added.

Expressing hope that his father will win, he said, "NA-59 is the stronghold of PML-N."

Responding to a question, the 12-year-old said, "I don't have any message for Chaudhry Nisar."

"In mine and my father's eyes, electoral candidates are held between party candidates and independent candidates have no value," he upheld.

Islam's arrest came a day after the PML-N fielded him against disgruntled PML-N leader Nisar in the NA-59 constituency.

Responding to a question about Islam's arrest, former premier Nawaz Sharif said in London that he was upset when he learned of the arrest.

On the other hand, Nisar also said that the NAB action was condemnable.

The former interior minister said that this could make the July 25 general election controversial.

Similarly, PML-N spokesperson and former information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb termed the NAB action pre-poll rigging and said the party would approach the Election Commission of Pakistan in this regard.

Further, Islam's daughter, Uswa Islam, said that her father was an honest man, alleging that the purpose of Islam's arrest was to "sabotage his election campaign."

She said that another purpose of her father's arrest was to affect the popularity of the PML-N.

Uswa said that her father was present at the NAB's Lahore office following a letter written to him pertaining to an inquiry by the anti-graft body.

"My father is a diabetic and he is not being allowed administration of injections," she alleged.

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Wednesday announced its candidates for national and provincial assembly seats from Punjab.

The PPP fielded former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf from NA-58 Gujar Khan-Rawalpindi. Former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira will contest the polls NA-70 Gujrat.

In NA-114 Jhang, the party has fielded Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat as its candidate for the forthcoming election. Mohammad Afzal Khokhar will contest the polls from NA-52 Islamabad.

Fakhar Umar Laleka will contest the election from NA-86 Mandi Bahauddin, whereas Asif Bashir Bhaagat will be running for NA-85 seat.

PPP Punjab division president Rai Shahjahan Bhatti will contest the polls from NA-118 and Ghulam Fareed Kathia from NA-148.

List of PPP candidates from Punjab

SC allows Bahria Town Karachi to resume work

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday allowed Bahria Town Karachi to resume development work, however, ordered the real estate giant to deposit Rs5 billion as guarantee within in 15 days.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Saiqb Nisar, conducted hearing of review petitions filed by Bahria Town on Wednesday.

Allowing the real estate giant to resume work, the court said that Bahria Town will be able to collect money from allottees, however, it will have to deposit 20 per cent of this amount with the court.

The remaining 80 per cent of sums will be spent on development work and issuance of salaries, the court said. The apex court also ordered submission of a monthly audit report.

During the hearing, the chief justice said that a five-member larger bench of the apex court will resume hearing of review petitions filed by Bahria Town after court holidays.

The court also barred the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from taking action against Bahria Town until a verdict is announced on the review petitions.

Malik Riaz, the owner of Bahria Town, stated before the court that he was under oath and had not said anything to anyone.

"All builders across the country operate in the same manner and I too have worked in accordance with the law," he said, noting that no one could establish such a huge city in two and a half years.

At this, the chief justice remarked, "Malik sahib, you will be served justice."

Bilawal to present ‘revolutionary’ manifesto tomorrow: Zardari

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party leader Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday that the party's co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will present a revolutionary manifesto tomorrow for the forthcoming polls.

In a statement released to the media, former president said that the PPP's struggle is aimed on getting bright future for the masses.

"PPP's manifesto is in light of the late Benazir's philosophy," he said. "Our mission is to materialise the dreams of Bhutto."

Zardari said that the romance between masses and late Bhutto will remain established till the day of judgment.

Its only in the history of Bhuttos to be martyred for the people.

"We will win elections with the power of masses," the former president said.

Maryam Nawaz has been issued a PML-N ticket for NA-127,

That PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz is contesting for a National Assembly seat in next month's general elections is a certainty.

However, the party appears to have been on the fence about which Lahore constituency the three-time 'first daughter' is most likely to win from.

It was first reported that Maryam had obtained nomination papers to contest her first-ever election from NA-125, a stronghold of the party, and NA-127.

We then heard that multiple "unfavourable factors" in NA-125 were forcing her to think about the NA-127 option.

The uncertainty seemed to have cleared up when the PML-N issued its list of "finalised candidates" for National Assembly on June 23, in which Maryam was named as the party's candidate from NA-125, while its Lahore president Pervaiz Malik was nominated from NA-127.

...until today.

Maryam has now been issued a PML-N ticket for NA-127, while the candidate for NA-125 is yet to be announced.

Will Pervaiz Malik be awarded that crucial ticket, or will he be the sacrificial lamb in Maryam's plan B, in case she loses NA-127? We'll have to wait and see.

National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua resigns

National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Nasser Janjua resigned from the post on Wednesday, allegedly due to differences with the interim government, DawnNewsTVreported, citing sources.

Janjua's resignation was accepted by Caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division.

Janjua, who had replaced Sartaj Aziz on Oct 23, 2015, was accorded the status of minister of state. His appointment was part of efforts to revitalise the national security division since, during Aziz's approximately two-and-a-half-year tenure, the National Security Committee had met just four times.

The military too had reportedly been pressing the then government for bringing in a new NSA.

Janjua is the second military official to hold the post after retired Maj Gen Mehmood Durrani, who was NSA during an earlier PPP government.

Janjua held the post of Southern Command Quetta before he retired from the army. Before that, he was president of the National Defence University, the military's higher education institute and premier think-tank on national security matters.

He also worked on 'Azm-i-Nau', a military preparedness exercise with particular focus on India. In December 2017, the then premier, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, had tasked Janjua to present the national security policy.

‘Electables’ jeopardising PTI’s slogan of change

Disgruntled PPP Okara leaders led by Sumsam Bokhari meet with PTI Chief Imran Khan at Bani Gala. â€”PTI Media Cell

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) loves to reorganise itself in Punjab. Young, exploring and expanding, it is frequently found adjusting, some of the rearrangements caused by the ambitious entrants into Imran Khan’s camp.

Such reorganisation is again on. The object is to “purge the party of factionalism and groupings” that have intensified in the wake of “conventional” politicians joining it “in large numbers”.

PTI politicians admit that growing factionalism is damaging the party. Some blame groupings within for its poor showing in the recently held election for the cantonment boards in Punjab. The results especially in Lahore and Rawalpindi, where the PTI claims to have strong following in the urban middle-class, left the PTI stalwarts wanting urgent remedial measures.

Even Chairman Imran Khan attributes the poor performance in the cantonment boards to divisions in the party. Speaking at a reception in Lahore recently, he expressed concern over groupings within the party ranks. He warned that the party faced a “serious inside threat”. “In this situation, the party does not need an enemy.”

Old party loyalists assign the blame for increasing divisions in the organisation to their leadership’s decision to accept ‘electables’ into the PTI folds. “The defectors have brought the culture of drawing-room intrigues into the party,” says a Lahore-based PTI leader who does not want to give his name.

“Until we started to embrace the conventional politicians in our party, the PTI was like a strongly bonded family. Today we can’t claim it to be a united front,” he argues.

While the top PTI leadership is happy that a fairly big number of electables continue to defect to the PTI, the old party loyalists have publicly expressed strong displeasure against the new entrants.

For example, when Syed Samsam Hussain Bukhari resigned from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to join the PTI earlier this month the local PTI cadre from Okara protested by hanging banners in the city streets. “The workers will react when a lota [turncoat] joins the party; it is but natural,” argues Ali Hussain Naqvi, the PTI candidate from Renala Khurd in the 2013 elections.

“The people who are joining our party today were not kind to our workers when they were in power.”

Yet he thinks the party must “grow bigger”, cautioning the leadership to give tickets (for local government and next general) elections on merit.

The differences in its ranks are not new to the PTI. But these divisions became more prominent when the party started expanding after it had successfully organised one of the largest political rallies in Lahore in many years. The groupings became more visible in the aftermath of the intra-party elections and during the award of the tickets for the May 2013 polls.

However, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, the former Punjab governor who has been given the task of reorganising the party in five central and northern divisions of the province, dismisses the reports of factionalism in the party describing workers as an asset for the party leadership. “We cannot afford factionalism in the party or disillusionment in our ranks and files. Hence, we consult our local party officials before accepting politicians from other parties into our folds,” he explains.

But old party loyalists do not consider consultations with the local party organisations sufficient enough to help the party rid of factionalism and groupings. “We were a party that stands for change; the conventional politicians who are a major hurdle in the way of this change have tainted this image and created groupings for their own sake. Now we’ve become another party just like the PPP or the PML-N, because we let such elements into the party,” Saniya Sajid, an old PTI loyalist and its former media manager, contends.

Political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi argues that anyone can easily discern different ideological strands in the PTI scrambling for power, which has created an “internal crisis” in the party. “The PTI is faced with a serious challenge because of factionalism. If it fails to manage its internal crisis, it will be extremely damaging [for its future].”

However, Punjab PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry rubbishes the talk of factionalism in the party.

“There may be minor groupings at the constituency level in some areas. But then this is normal [for political parties].”

PTI will use any strategy to defeat PML-N, win the elections: Imran on 'electables', seat adjustments

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan, during an interview aired on Tuesday night, made it clear that the party would use "any strategy" that would help it defeat PML-N and win the July 25 elections.

Khan, while speaking to Geo News' Hamid Mir on the program 'Capital Talk', said: "For elections 2018, we have just one strategy: defeat Noon [N] League."

Mir questioned Khan about seat adjustments with parties — such as Awami Muslim League and PML-Q — that the leader had previously lambasted. "Perhaps I have the best training when it comes to competing since I have been a sportsman. The strategy is to win the match — and our [PTI's] match is against PML-N."

"We will adopt every strategy that will help us defeat PML-N," said the PTI chief, adding that including people from other parties to the PTI and seat adjustments were all part of the main goal: to win the elections.

"We will also do seat adjustments where we feel PTI doesn't have a strong candidate against PML-N but some other anti-N League candidate can win the seat."

Over the last few weeks, the selection of so-called electables in numerous constituencies across the country as PTI candidates has led to discontent and protest among the party’s older members.

The PTI chief, however, during the interview stuck to his choice of candidates, saying there was a "misconception" that change wasn't taking place because of the same old faces. "It's not about the 'electables'; it's about the leaders at the top."

"Even if you bring angels under Nawaz [Sharif] or [Asif Ali] Zardari, it won't make a difference," he said, going after the PML-N and PPP leaders. "It is the leader who gets rid of corruption. If the leader is strong, so will be the nation."

Tareen vs Qureshi

When asked about PTI leaders Jahangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi "publicly fighting", Khan admitted that there are differences amid the party and "it is very difficult to stop them".

In 2016, unfortunately, we tried conducting intra-party elections and two groups were formed — Tareen's and Qureshi's, said Khan. "This is the fallout from that," he said, going on to downplay the conflict."It's not a big issue [...] it stops being an issue when you form the government."

The anchor, however, pointed out that when Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister, his government's interior minister, Chauhdry Nisar, and defence minister at the time, Khawaja Asif, were at odds and their differences affected the country.

Khan, however, remained adamant that as long as the leader at the top is "strong", it would not become an issue.

'PTI supports PTM'

Bringing up the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), Khan said that most of what the movement was demanding, was correct. "I've been talking about the same things as the PTM," he said, stressing the need to streamline the tribal areas.

"The best way is the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)-Fata merger, so that development is fast. If the merger is delayed, then unrest will spread again."

Khan then came back to the PTM, saying that the PTI has tried to solve the community's problems with its leaders. He also said that PTI will not field a candidate against PTM's South Waziristan candidate Ali Wazir as "a goodwill gesture".

Sita White

Mir also asked Khan about the reports regarding his relationship with Sita White, asking the leader what can be done to quash the controversy that keeps resurfacing.

Earlier this month, Abdul Wahab Baluch, a candidate of the Justice and Democratic Party (JDP) headed by former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, filed a petition against Khan's eligibility to contest the elections, saying the PTI chief's nomination papers should be rejected because he did not disclose he had a daughter as a result of his “relations with Ana-Luisa (Sita) White".

In a written reply, Khan had dismissed the allegations. “All the objections are false, fabricated and based on unverified documents.”

During the interview, Khan alleged that the Sharif brothers go after his personal life as they have nothing against him when it comes to corruption.

"Nobody is an angel and everyone has flaws. I have been in politics for 22 years now and they [Sharifs and opponents] keep attacking my personal life. Either they come after the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital or they talk about Sita White and Jemima [Goldsmith]." He alleged that the PML-N leaders were behind JDP's petition and his former wife's upcoming book.

When asked about addressing the controversy with a simple yes or no answer, Khan said: "It's a non issue. Why would I answer this? Is Imran Khan being honest with the country's money? That's the only issue at the moment."

Touching briefly upon the departure of PTI supporter Zulfiqar Hussain Bukhari aka Zulfi Bukhari to Saudi Arabia earlier this month on a one-time “permission”, Khan said he could not understand why the incident was made into an issue.

"He was born and brought up in the United Kingdom (UK), runs a business in UK. I don't understand why the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is trying a person who has no ties with Pakistan. If anyone, it should be the UK government questioning him."

According to sources in NAB, Bukhari is accused of owning an offshore company and having assets beyond his known sources of income.

They said following directions of the Supreme Court to take action against all those who owned offshore firms, NAB had served three notices to Bukhari to appear before it.

Imran cleared from NA-53, NA-35; Abbasi's NA-57 candidature turned down

The Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) appellate tribunals on Wednesday cleared Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan's nomination papers to contest the upcoming polls from Islamabad’s NA-53 constituency as well as Bannu's NA-35.

Khan's papers, like former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and PTI-Gulalai leader Ayesha Gulalai's, had been rejected from NA-53 because he had failed to fill out Clause N, which asks candidates about their contributions to their previous constituencies.

The tribunal’s presiding officer Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani had set aside the objections against Abbasi and Gulalai's papers on Tuesday but had put off hearing the appeal filed by Khan until today.

Khan personally appeared before Justice Kayani today to fill out the incomplete Clause 'N' of the affidavit.

He mentioned that his philanthropic work such as the establishment of Shaukat Khanum Hospital and his quest to create awareness about fundamental rights may be treated as contribution towards his previous constituents.

Khan received another boost today as his nomination papers from NA-35 were also cleared after objections raised by Justice and Democratic Party candidate Inamullah Wazir were discarded by another appellate tribunal.

Wazir had sought the rejection of Khan's candidacy on the grounds that he had failed to disclose the name of Tyrian White, the PTI chief's alleged daughter, in his nomination papers.

After hearing both the parties' arguments, the tribunal ruled in Khan's favour citing the unavailability of evidence

Meanwhile, Abbasi, who had received his clearance from NA-53 a day earlier, failed to receive the go-ahead to run from NA-57 (Murree) as the objections raised by petitioner Masood Ahmed Abbasi against the PML-N leader's papers, including that of tampering with his nomination papers, were accepted by the tribunal.

The petitioner argued that Abbasi had first attached a Rs100 stamp paper with his papers and added a Rs500 stamp paper later on.

He had also accused Abbasi of illegally occupying the Lawrence College forest and understating the ownership of his house in F-7/2.

The constituency's returning officer (RO), who had originally accepted Abbasi's papers, was suspended after he admitted his error.

Abbasi guilty of concealment of facts: tribunal

In his written order on rejection of Abbasi, Judge Ibadur Rehman Lodhi said that the former premier was "guilty of concealment of facts and withholding of the complete information from his voters". He also went on to declare that Abbasi was not qualified to be elected a member of parliament according to Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution.

Elaborating on the decision, the judge stated that Abbasi had declared the value of his house in Islamabad to be Rs300,000 but put it under mortgage against an amount of Rs24.7 million.

He also noted the discrepancies in two affidavits submitted by Abbasi as one had mentioned shares in Air Blue and Blue Pines Inn Murree, "after interpolation", while the other did not.

Judge Rahman stated that the stance of the returning officer (RO) — who an inquiry has been initiated against — was different from that of Abbasi's lawyer on the changes made to the affidavit.

Abbasi will now be able to challenge the decision in high court.

Fawad Chaudhry's papers rejected

PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry's papers from NA-67 (Jhelum) were also rejected. Nonpayment of taxes on agricultural landholding and his name being Fawad Ahmed on his computerised national identity card were among the objections raised against his nomination papers by JDP candidate Fakhar Abbas Kazmi.

Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) leader Maulana Ashraf Jalali, whose nomination papers from NA-81 (Gujranwala) had earlier been accepted, saw that decision overturned as PML-N politician Atif's objections against his papers were deemed valid.

Not mentioning his tax returns and not handing over his passport to the RO were among the objections raised against Jalali's papers.

The ECP is scheduled to issue revised list of candidates tomorrow. The candidates may file an appeal before a three-member bench of the high court against the decision of the appellate tribunals.

Shahbaz Sharif's 'Kiranchi' remarks don't go down well with Twitterati

Twitter had a field day as PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif visited Pakistan Peoples Party stronghold Lyari for his election campaign on Tuesday.

For Mr Sharif, the metropolis bid him farewell with fond memories of his impromptu performance at a local hotel where he sang Ahmed Rushdi’s ‘Akelay na jaana’.

“I accepted the demand of the people of Karachi :) “Akelay na jaana, hamain chhorh kar tum - tumharay bina hum bala kia jiyain gy” with sincere thanks for their warm welcome! Pleasure to sing along with the singers who were performing!” he tweeted.

However, critics in Karachi were not entirely impressed.

PPP chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari was quick to offer a riposte as he posted a cheeky couplet directed at the PML-N leader. “Mazdoor Ka Hay Haari Ka / Sindh Nahi Darbaari Ka / Vote Mangnay Niklay Hein / Rasta Tak Pata Nahi Liyari Ka,” he tweeted.

Speaking of play of words, Mr Sharif’s remarks on ‘Kiranchi’ and its denizens’ paan-eating habits did not go well with its people.

“It’s completely okay when we make fun of ourselves but it’s way out of line when an outsider like you @CMShehbaz say something derogatory about the city or the people that you’ve conveniently ignored for decades. Someone give him some paan please. #karachi,” tweeted a user.

Like most things on Twitter, the situation escalated quickly and became political.

“Dear @CMShehbaz Just gonna tell you a story my Aunty came from abroad in karachi the first thing she asked after arriving was paan. We love paan and we are a proud kiranchite #ShehbazDisunitesPakistan,” tweeted Shazaib Shakeel.

Former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal then stepped in to defend his party.

“Unfortunately events preceding GE2018 are ruining country’s standing as a democracy. PMLN & Media targeting is so obvious. If level playing field is denied, country will plunge into serious political crisis. PMLN getting stronger with every attack & emerge victorious IA!” he wrote.

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