ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced on Saturday it would challenge the country’s election regulator’s decision of taking back its election symbol, a cricket bat, in a court on Tuesday, hoping the judiciary would restore it back to the party.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the decision after a disgruntled PTI leader, Akbar S. Babar, challenged the PTI’s intraparty elections held on Dec. 2 and urged the watchdog to declare the exercise null and void for violating rules. Babar said the PTI had neither displayed a final list of candidates nor was any paperwork done for the polls.
Last month, the ECP declared the PTI’s intraparty elections in June 2022 as invalid, giving the party 20 days to rearrange the contest to retain cricket bat as its election symbol for which it had applied. The PTI elected Barrister Gohar Khan as its chairman along with other office bearers and submitted the results with the election commission.
However, the ECP announced its verdict on Friday, ruling that the PTI had not complied with its directions and failed to hold intraparty election in accordance with the party’s own constitution along with the Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017.
The decision, which led to the party losing its election symbol, was described as “flawed, illegal, biased and a serious attack on the transparency of the elections” by a PTI spokesperson.
“We have done all the consultation,” Barrister Khan told reporters in Rawalpindi. “It’s just that we have not received the order of the election commission. The moment we get its certified copy, we will file our petitions on Tuesday morning since there is Christmas and Quaid-e-Azam Day on Monday.”
He maintained the ECP’s decision was not sustainable, adding that the judiciary would restore the party’s election symbol.
Earlier, the PTI said in a statement the electoral watchdog had once again proved it was not interested in conducting free and transparent polls.
“This biased, prejudiced and illegal verdict by the commission could not stand and it would be challenged in the Supreme Court.”
Election symbols are crucial in Pakistan where the adult literacy rate is just 58 percent, according to World Bank data.
The bat is reflective of Khan’s past as a successful cricketer. The former prime minister led Pakistan to their only 50-over World Cup win in 1992, propelling him to an unrivaled position among Pakistan’s cricket greats.
The ECP decision came less than two months before Pakistan is scheduled to head to the polls, but the PTI said it would contest and win the upcoming elections.
“The PTI would contest the forthcoming general elections with its electoral symbol of ‘bat’ and would secure historic victory in the polls despite all odds,” the PTI statement read.
The attempts to deprive the representative political party of millions of Pakistanis of its electoral symbol and to keep it “out of the electoral process” would never succeed, it added.
Political parties and their members in Pakistan are often tangled in legal proceedings that rights monitors say are orchestrated by the powerful military, which has ruled the country directly for more than half of its history and continues to enjoy immense power.
Khan’s PTI party has also been struggling against a widespread crackdown, with leading party figures either jailed or forced to leave the party.
The ex-premier, who has been locked up since August, has accused Pakistan’s powerful military, the ECP, and his political rivals of colluding to keep him and the PTI out of elections.
Pakistan’s military, the ECP, and the caretaker government deny the allegations.
Ex-PM Khan’s party to challenge election regulator’s decision on party symbol on Tuesday
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Ex-PM Khan’s party to challenge election regulator’s decision on party symbol on Tuesday
- The regulator stripped PTI of the election symbol for failing to comply with its directives on intraparty polls
- Election symbols are crucial in Pakistan where adult literacy rate is just 58 percent, according to World Bank data
Students in Pakistan’s north embark on over 150-kilometer march for road safety awareness
- The marchers aim to press the government to built tunnels on 167-kilometer Juglot-Skardu Road to avoid accidents, blockades
- They say the original construction plan of JSR included five tunnels, but not a single one was constructed by authorities
KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: A group of students on Saturday embarked on a more than 150-kilometer march from Pakistan’s northern Gilgit district to Skardu, aiming to raise awareness about road safety.
The marchers called for making the 167-km single-carriage Juglot-Skardu Road (JSR), which connects the Gilgit division with Skardu district in the Baltistan division, safer for travelers by building tunnels at various locations prone to landslides in the mountainous region.
Skardu is a major tourism, trekking and mountaineering hub in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region and home to Askole and Hushe villages, often referred to as gateways to snow-capped peaks, including K2, the Gasherbrums and Broad Peak, as well as the Baltoro, Biafo and Trango glaciers.
“We are marching just with a single agenda and our slogan is: ‘Build tunnels, save lives,’” Shehbaz Shareef, a member of the Baltistan Students Federation (BSF), told Arab News.
“We have organized this walk to raise awareness about the need for safer and reliable routes between Skardu and other parts of the country.”
Shareef said the original construction plan for JSR included five tunnels, but none were built.
“This route has been constructed by FWO [Frontier Works Organization],” he added. “However, the tunnels were not built, and this road has become more dangerous.”
Arab News contacted FWO, a construction and engineering organization managed by the Pakistan Army, for its version. However, it was referred to the local chapter of the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, which did not respond to the query until the filing of this report.
The Awami Action Committee (AAC), a civic rights body in the region, announced its support for the march.
“We are very thankful to the BSF who are raising a very important issue. They are demanding the government to make this road safer through this march because this road is the only land route to the Baltistan division,” Najaf Ali, chairman of the AAC Baltistan chapter, told Arab News.
“It has become a well of death. Accidents are common on this road, and it has devoured many precious lives. A few days ago, five people were killed after a landslide buried their car. We have grown tired of lifting bodies due to accidents.”
Ali urged the government to build the requisite tunnels on the road.
“This is a matter of life and death, so we are with the students, and we will warmly receive them in Skardu,” he said. “Additionally, we also held a meeting with trade bodies and decided to launch a big drive to press the government to make this road safe.”
Mesam Kazim, opposition leader in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, said they would do their utmost to press the government for the construction of tunnels on JSR.
“In 2022, we adopted a unanimous resolution demanding the federal government to order the construction of tunnels on the Gilgit-Skardu road to avoid frequent blockades of the artery due to landslides,” Kazim said.
“In the initial PC-1 [survey] uploaded by NHA [National Highway Authority], the construction of tunnels was part of the plan. Tunnels have been missed, and international standards [of construction] have been violated by FWO on JSR.”
He lamented that there were no parking lots, safety barriers, or speed limit boards on the road, and more than 100 people had lost their lives in accidents on JSR over the last few years.
“Who is responsible for these casualties?” Kazim questioned.
Government arrests two human smugglers linked to Greek boat tragedy that killed five Pakistanis
- FIA says Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed were arrested in separate operations from Gujranwala and Gurjat
- Investigations reveal victims of the boat tragedy paid over $30,000 after being promised safe passage to Europe
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities on Sunday arrested two men involved in a recent boat tragedy off the coast of Greece that killed at least five nationals, as part of an intensified crackdown on human smuggling networks, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said.
The arrests come in the wake of a boat disaster last week near the Greek island of Gavdos, which highlighted the perilous journeys many migrants undertake, often driven by conflicts in the Middle East. In the case of Pakistani nationals, economic challenges push many young individuals to attempt dangerous crossings to Europe in search of better financial prospects.
The issue illegal immigrations to Europe came under greater scrutiny in the country last year when hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned after an overcrowded vessel capsized off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos.
The FIA said it apprehended Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed in separate operations following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to target those facilitating illegal migration.
The Pakistani agency informed Aslam was part of an international human smuggling ring and was accused of orchestrating the ill-fated journey that saw Pakistani migrants taken to Libya before being put on a boat bound for Greece.
“Using advanced technology, Aslam was tracked and arrested in Gujranwala,” the FIA statement said, adding the second suspect was arrested in Gujrat district located in the eastern Punjab province and was accused of creating fake travel documents and charging large sums for his services.
The statement informed Aslam extorted Rs8.5 million ($30,660) from victims by promising safe passage to Europe.
The Pakistani premier called for enhanced cooperation with international agencies earlier this month, seeking swift action against human trafficking networks. He also instructed the FIA to compile a detailed report on migration-related incidents over the past year and implement an Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) to monitor and prevent illegal movement.
The FIA said in its statement it had formed special teams to track other suspects linked to human smuggling rings.
“We will use all available resources to arrest those playing with innocent lives,” Abdul Qadir Qamar, the director of the FIA’s Gujranwala zone, was quoted as saying in the statement.
Authorities have presented 174 human smuggling cases in court this year, with four convictions reported so far. The government has also decided to launch a public awareness campaign to discourage dangerous migration attempts.
“Concrete evidence will ensure the culprits face severe punishment,” Qamar added, emphasizing the government’s commitment to preventing such tragedies.
Pakistan government forms committee to negotiate with Imran Khan’s party amid growing polarization
- Development comes after Khan threatened civil disobedience in the country, seeking release of political prisoners
- Government acknowledges talks can help break the current impasse which has also impacted national economy
ISLAMABAD: The government on Sunday formed a committee to hold talks with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, state media reported, to discuss a range of issues causing political polarization that has also impacted the country’s fragile economy.
The move comes after PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan threatened to launch civil disobedience by urging overseas Pakistanis, a key support base for his party, to halt remittances if the government does not meet his demands, including the release of political prisoners, by Dec. 22.
Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year on charges he claims are politically motivated, has also called for judicial commissions to investigate violent protests on May 9 last year and Nov. 26 this year, which the government says involved his party supporters.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee comprising government members,” state-owned Pakistan Television News reported. “This committee will hold negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”
The formation of the government’s negotiating team followed a meeting between PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday evening in which Gohar requested the creation of a parliamentary committee to facilitate dialogue. Sadiq subsequently approached the Prime Minister, urging him to nominate representatives for the talks.
The government’s committee includes key figures from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Political Adviser Rana Sanaullah and Senator Irfan Siddiqui, alongside representatives from allied parties. PTI has already established its own negotiating team.
The development comes a day after Pakistan’s military announced prison sentences for 25 people involved in the May 9, 2023, protests, which PTI has demanded be investigated. The military said it had gathered “irrefutable evidence” against those prosecuted and reiterated its commitment to bringing the planners of the violence to justice.
The announcement has raised concerns among supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who faces charges of inciting attacks against the armed forces and may potentially be tried in a military court.
The country has remained gripped by political unrest and uncertainty since Khan’s ouster from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which has also exacerbated Pakistan’s economic hardships.
Senior government representatives have recently acknowledged that negotiations could offer a pathway out of the current political impasse. However, they have cautioned that it is too early to determine which of PTI’s demands might be addressed.
Pakistan PM orders crackdown on tax evasion, calls for modernization of revenue collection system
- Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest in the region, with government aiming to increase it to 13.5%
- Tax reforms are also part of the IMF recommendations, which led to approval of a $7 billion loan package this year
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed authorities to take strict action against tax evasion and ensure non-compliance is addressed as part of his administration’s efforts to enhance revenue collection and modernize the tax system, according to the state media.
Chairing a meeting in Lahore, Sharif emphasized the need for incorporating advanced technology to improve the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) performance.
“Improving the FBR’s performance through technology is the government’s top priority,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency quoted him as saying.
The prime minister called for the swift completion of the FBR’s value chain digitization and instructed the rapid implementation of video analytics in the cement and tobacco industries, sectors prone to tax underreporting.
He expressed optimism that digitization efforts would help recover billions of rupees for the national treasury.
The government has recently undertaken a series of tax measures, including expanding the tax base and targeting untaxed sectors.
Earlier this year, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasized the need for everyone to pay their fair share, describing tax reforms as critical to breaking the cycle of external financial reliance.
Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest in the region, at just over nine percent, though the government aims to increase it to 13.5% in the coming years.
The Pakistani administration has also announced to launch a crackdown on affluent individuals not yet in the tax net, with the FBR tasked to identify and penalize evaders.
The tax reforms are also part of the International Monetary Fund’s recommendations, which led to the approval of a fresh $7 billion loan package for the country this year.
Pakistan vows zero tolerance for mistreatment of polio workers as year’s last vaccination drive ends
Pakistan vows zero tolerance for mistreatment of polio workers as year’s last vaccination drive ends
- Polio teams often face hostility in Pakistan, with militant groups targeting them and locals resisting their efforts
- Government promises to take strong action against cases of harassment or abuse directed at frontline workers
KARACHI: Pakistan’s government on Saturday said it would not tolerate the mistreatment of polio workers as the final vaccination campaign of the year to eradicate the disease concluded across much of the country amid a sharp increase in number of cases in 2024.
The weeklong nationwide vaccination drive, held Dec. 16-22, aimed to immunize 44 million children in 143 districts. Despite extensive efforts, the 2024 tally reached 64 cases this month.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. Regular door-to-door campaigns have been a cornerstone of Pakistan’s eradication strategy, but vaccination teams often face hostility, with militant groups targeting workers and local communities resisting efforts.
Earlier this week, authorities in Sindh arrested six people after a polio team was reportedly attacked by a tribal family in Karachi’s Qur’angi neighborhood.
“The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against actions targeting polio workers,” said Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication.
“Mistreatment of polio workers will not be tolerated,” she continued. “We are in contact with provincial authorities regarding incidents involving workers, and strict action will be taken against perpetrators.”
Farooq urged all provincial and district officials to take strong action against cases of harassment or abuse directed at frontline workers. She emphasized that protecting polio teams was critical to safeguarding children from the devastating effects of the disease.
The anti-polio campaign is yet to be carried out in Pakistan’s Balochistan province where officials announced a postponement of the vaccination drive until Dec. 30 due to a lack of preparedness.
The province has reported 26 cases this year, the highest in Pakistan, highlighting its vulnerability to the virus.
Farooq also appealed to communities to support and protect polio workers, calling them the backbone of the nation’s fight against polio.
“Ending polio is a national priority, and frontline workers are like our backbone [in this struggle],” she added.
