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  • Pakistan remains in a fix over approving census results ahead of national elections


Pakistan remains in a fix over approving census results ahead of national elections

An official from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics uses a digital device to collect information from a resident during door-to-door the first ever digital national census in Lahore on March 1, 2023. (AFP/FILE)
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Updated 03 August 2023
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Pakistan remains in a fix over approving census results ahead of national elections

  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said earlier this week upcoming general elections would be held on basis of 2023 census results
  • Experts say redistribution of National Assembly seats, fresh delimitation of constituencies could take months, delay polls
Updated 03 August 2023
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government remained hesitant on convening a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on Thursday to seek approval of the results of the country's first digital census, with experts saying upcoming general elections could be delayed if the government remains in a limbo over the matter. 

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) conducted the country's first digital census in May 2023. PBS forwarded the results to the CCI, a constitutional body comprising the prime minister and chief ministers of all provinces who decide important national matters with consensus. 

The Prime Minister's Office and the chief statistician discussed the population census on Thursday but stopped short of convening the CCI meeting. The CCI only has the prerogative to approve census results. Once the census is approved and published, the law states that elections are to be held on the basis of the published census.

“As per the rules, members are required to be given a ten-day notice for the CCI’s meeting which has not been issued yet,” CCI's focalperson, Syed Mudassir Hussain Shah, told Arab News. 

He said as chairman of the CCI, the prime minister is empowered to call the meeting while the council’s secretariat issues the agenda and facilitates the session. “We haven’t been officially communicated yet to release any meeting agenda,” he disclosed. 

The five-year term of Pakistan's legislature will expire on August 12, with experts believing that if the census is approved days before the assemblies are dissolved, the move would delay general elections across the country. 

Population censuses have a huge impact on elections in Pakistan, with census results serving as the basis of allocation of National Assembly seats among the four provinces of the country and Islamabad, according to Article 51(5) of the constitution.

The controversy began after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on August 1 that the upcoming elections would be held on population census 2023. Experts believe if the census results are approved, Pakistan's election regulator would require at least four months to complete the delimitation of constituencies, ultimately leading to a delay in the polls. 

Pakistan's constitution stipulates polls should be held within 60 days after assemblies complete their tenure. However, if the government dissolves assemblies early, then elections would be held within 90 days. 

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), national elections would be contested on 266 National Assembly seats with 141 in Punjab, 61 in Sindh, 45 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 16 in Balochistan, and three in Islamabad. This brings the total number of National Assembly seats to 336, out of which 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for non-Muslims. 

Former ECP secretary Kanwar Dilshad said if the CCI approves fresh census results, Pakistan's election regulator would be constitutionally bound to hold fresh delimitation of constituencies. 

He added that the process could take four to six months. 

“In that case, it is obvious that national elections would face a delay till the completion of the fresh delimitations across Pakistan,” Dilshad told Arab News, adding that the issue of allocating National Assembly seats could be deferred to the next parliament. 

“The seats' allocation on the basis of fresh census data would require a constitutional amendment and that cannot be done in the absence of the National Assembly,” he said, adding that the new legislature after elections could take the matter up for discussion.  

Dilshad said the CCI may constitute a commission to verify census results and develop a consensus among all stakeholders before giving its final approval. “It is a subjective matter, so let’s see how the CCI, if convened, handles it,” he said. 

Rashid Chaudhry, deputy director of programs at the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in Islamabad, said an interesting situation regarding the redistribution of seats could develop after census results are published. 

“It is mandatory as per the constitution to redistribute the number of the seats among all federating units after every population census through a constitutional amendment," Chaudhry told Arab News. "Which the current legislature cannot do.”

“Political parties will have to develop a consensus over census results and the timing of the next national elections, to avoid any controversy,” he added. 

Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals

Updated 29 November 2024
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Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals

  • Warrior VIII, which began on November 19, aims to bolster counterterrorism capabilities
  • Pakistan’s army chief interacted with the participants of the exercise and praised their morale
Updated 29 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Friday visited the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, located in the Gujrat division of Punjab province, to observe a joint counterterrorism exercise between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, said an official statement.
The three-week “Warrior VIII” exercise, which began on November 19, is the eighth iteration of bilateral training aimed at bolstering counterterrorism capabilities and enhancing military cooperation.
The exercise comes as China’s security concerns in Pakistan have grown following a spate of attacks targeting Chinese nationals working on dozens of lucrative projects in the country.
“The COAS was briefed on the scope and conduct of the exercise,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said. “He also interacted with the participants of the exercise.”
Thousands of Chinese nationals have been working on the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for nearly a decade, with several of them being targeted by different militant groups operating in Pakistan.
Earlier this year, in March, a suicide bomber attacked a convoy near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing five Chinese engineers. A few months later, in October, a bombing near Karachi airport targeted Chinese workers ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Islamabad.
Beijing has voiced concerns over the safety of its citizens working in Pakistan and has reportedly proposed a joint security mechanism.
However, the foreign office said this month the two countries have a “robust dialogue and cooperation” on a range of issues, including counterterrorism and the security of Chinese nationals in the country.
It also expressed the government’s resolve to work with Chinese authorities to ensure the safety and security of their nationals, as well as their projects and investments.
According to Voice of America, Warrior VIII is the first joint counterterrorism exercise between the two countries in five years.
The ISPR said General Munir also praised the professionalism and high morale of the officers and soldiers participating in the joint military exercise.

Topics: Pakistan Army Pakistan China Ties joint military exercises

European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister

Updated 50 min 44 sec ago
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European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister

  • The development will revive PIA’s flights to Europe, strengthen the government’s privatization drive
  • Pakistan’s Airblue has secured Third Country Operator authorization to fly to European destinations
Updated 50 min 44 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights after a span of four years, Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced Friday, commending all the relevant officials who made the breakthrough possible.
The ban on PIA flights was imposed in 2020 after a crash in Karachi killed 97 people, followed by a former Pakistani aviation minister’s statement claiming that nearly 40 percent of local pilots held “dubious” licenses.
This statement raised global concerns about safety oversight, leading to the grounding of PIA’s European operations.
The suspension added to PIA’s financial troubles, as the debt-ridden national carrier continued to incur losses amid its struggle to recover from a tarnished reputation. The government also faced difficulties privatizing the airline, a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during recent loan negotiations, due to its precarious financial situation.
“It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” the aviation minister wrote in a social media post.

He also announced that the decision granted Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization to another Pakistani airline, Airblue, marking a significant development for the aviation sector.
TCO authorization granted by EASA allows non-European airlines to operate commercial flights into, within or out of European Union airspace.
Airblue, Pakistan’s second-largest airline, operates domestic and regional routes and is expected to explore European operations following the TCO authorization.
Responding to the development, PIA lauded the lifting of the ban as a testament to its adherence to international safety standards.
“This milestone ensures that the entire nation can once again travel directly to European destinations with their national airline,” the airline said in a statement, adding it had worked tirelessly over the past four years to meet EASA’s safety requirements.

“The PIA administration will remain fully compliant with EASA and its rules and regulations,” it added.
Asif credited the lifting of the suspension to reforms in Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), which he said were aimed at aligning the regulator with international standards.
“I am grateful to the European Commission and EASA for conducting a transparent process and our commitment to ensuring aviation safety in Pakistan,” he said in the social media message.
The development is expected to help revive PIA’s European operations and strengthen the government’s privatization efforts by improving the airline’s appeal to potential investors.

Topics: Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days

Updated 29 November 2024
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Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days

  • Total number of applications received so far is 11,000 more than during the corresponding period last year
  • Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210, evenly split between the government and private tour operators
Updated 29 November 2024
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Friday that 38,000 Hajj applications had been received in the first 10 days of the submission period, 11,000 more than during the same period last year.
The surge comes as Pakistan prepares to send 179,210 pilgrims for the annual Islamic pilgrimage in 2025, under a quota evenly divided between government and private Hajj schemes.
“By the tenth day, 38,000 Hajj applications have been received,” a ministry said in a statement, adding that designated banks would continue accepting applications over the weekend. The final deadline for submissions is Dec. 3.
Pilgrims under the regular Hajj scheme can secure their booking with an initial payment of Rs200,000 ($719), according to the statement.
Pakistan has steadily improved facilities for pilgrims in recent years.
One key initiative is the Makkah Route Initiative, which streamlines immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete formalities at their departure airports.
Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of travelers.
Efforts have also included the launch of a mobile application, Pak Hajj 2025, to provide pilgrims with essential updates, flight details and navigation assistance in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts millions of Muslims annually to Makkah, with Pakistan consistently being among the largest contributors of pilgrims.

Topics: Hajj 2025 Pakistan Hajj Pakistan Hajj mission Hajj applications

ICC talks continue on fate of Pakistan Champions Trophy

Updated 29 November 2024
AFP
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ICC talks continue on fate of Pakistan Champions Trophy

  • Event’s fate has been hanging in the balance since India declined to visit Pakistan
  • ICC meeting adjourned without a decision but will reconvene ‘in the next few days’
Updated 29 November 2024
AFP

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said talks were continuing to settle uncertainty around next year’s Champions Trophy, sources told AFP, after India refused to travel to host nation Pakistan.
The event’s fate has been hanging in the balance since earlier this month, when the ICC said India had declined to visit Pakistan for the eight-team tournament.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.
A meeting by the Dubai-headquartered ICC was held briefly on Friday but adjourned without a decision, according to several sources with knowledge of the talks who were not authorized to speak to media.
“All parties continue to work toward a positive resolution,” said one source, adding that “it is expected that the board will reconvene in the next few days.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board has previously ruled out proposals allowing India to play in a neutral third country, insisting the full schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be staged on their turf.
Another source said the “Pakistani stance remains the same” following Friday’s brief meeting.

Topics: ICC ICC Champions Trophy 2025 champions trophy Pakistan cricket Pakistan Cricket Board

No let-up in Kurram fighting in Pakistan as death toll hits 98 amid fragile ceasefire

Updated 29 November 2024
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No let-up in Kurram fighting in Pakistan as death toll hits 98 amid fragile ceasefire

  • Tribal elders in the area say dozens of families have moved from the region to safer locations
  • Pakistani parliamentarian from Kurram puts the death toll at 110, seeking government intervention
Updated 29 November 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: Sporadic gunfire and violence persist in Pakistan’s Kurram district despite a ceasefire brokered last weekend by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) administration in the region, following sectarian clashes that have killed 98 and injured over 130 in the last nine days, a police official said Friday.
Kurram, a former semi-autonomous tribal area bordering Afghanistan, has a long history of violent conflicts that have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. A major conflict in the district, triggered in 2007, lasted for years before being resolved by a jirga, or council of tribal elders, in 2011.
The recent clashes in the restive district broke out when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community in Lower Kurram on November 21, killing 41 people.
Wazir Hussain, a police official stationed in the region, told Arab News that the ceasefire agreement had collapsed, adding that there was no let-up in clashes.
“Armed clashes have continued throughout the district,” he said over the phone. “There is a huge problem of communication because mobile signals and Internet have not been working for days.”
“Almost 98 people have died and over 130 injured in nine days of violence,” he continued. “Ceasefire agreement is nowhere and both the sides have been hitting each other’s positions with small and heavy weapons.”
Last Sunday, the provincial spokesperson of KP, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, announced in a statement that the two warring sides had agreed to temporarily halt attacks and enforce a seven-day ceasefire.
The development followed Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s statement that his administration was working toward a ceasefire before formulating a strategy to prevent such incidents in the future after consulting local elders.
Hameed Hussain, a Pakistani parliamentarian from Kurram, also confirmed while speaking to Arab News that the ceasefire brokered by the KP authorities had failed to hold up in all these days.
He said the death toll had exceeded 98 and stood at 110.
“Only last night’s clashes in Kalkuna, Badshah Kot and other villages have left 18 people dead,” he informed, adding that jirga members were trying to pacify the situation, but the government was finding it difficult to enforce its writ in the area.
Hussain said he had spoken with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier and briefed him about the situation.
“I told the PM that the government should at least secure the roads in Kurram for passengers to travel securely,” he added. “The prime minister promised to ensure durable peace in the area and take steps to resolve the issue.”
Kurram’s Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told the media the district administration was making efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement.
“A breakthrough to halt attacks and enforce the ceasefire is expected soon,” he added.
The clashes in Kurram mark one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years, following outbreaks of sectarian violence in July and September that killed dozens.
According to local elders, dozens of families have moved from the region to safer locations to avoid casualties.

Topics: militancy in Pakistan kurram kurram district parachinar

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