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While speaking in the General Assembly debate on 'Responsibility to Protect and Prevent Crimes against Humanity', the Pakistani envoy said "selectivity" has meant that egregious crimes, including killings and mass blinding, claim innocent victims in Indian-occupied Kashmir in full view of the international community.
“The tragic victims in occupied Jammu and Kashmir suffer the further indignity of living under an illegal occupation,” she said.
Lodhi also referred to the grave situation in Palestine, where the failure of the international community to uphold these norms has been what she called “most manifest and telling.”
As the killing fields of Gaza were drenched in the blood of over 130 innocent Palestinians, including countless women and children, she said, the Security Council stood as a silent bystander to the plight of the long-suffering Palestinian people.
The Pakistani ambassador further added that in the current times, the world should not be selective in its approach, such as being provoked at some transgressions while choosing to wilfully ignore others.
“Against this backdrop, calls for accountability of double standards and selectivity, especially when egregious crimes including killings and mass-blinding are being committed in full view of the international community”, she asserted.
“We should neither attempt nor accept any artificial duality between the twin imperatives of legitimacy and legality."
Responsibility to Protect
While stressing that the notion of the Responsibility to Protect stands on more tenuous ground today than ever before, Ambassador Lodhi said that decisions taken by the international community have, in this regard, often failed the test of the highest standards of objectivity and impartiality.
She called on the world body for implementation of consistent and uniform standards and emphasised collective responsibility to prevent these grave crimes.
“The 'will' of the international community, in particular, the permanent members of the Security Council, is crucial”, she said, adding that this was particularly important to address the issues of permissibility of actions and to ensure their consistency.
This masquerade of political expediency posing as high-flowing idealism, she said, has meant that resultant actions have lacked the legal and moral legitimacy to gain wider acceptability.
However, other interesting details such as their educational backgrounds and professions have also emerged from the statements submitted to the electoral body for review.
As per his record submitted to the ECP, former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif holds a Bachelor’s degree and is a politician and businessman by profession.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, has stated she holds a Master’s degree in English Literature.
Meanwhile, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan holds a degree from Oxford in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman has listed himself as a philanthropist, motivational speaker and parliamentarian.
Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari claims to hold a diploma but has not shared any further details. Regarding his profession, Zardari has revealed that he is an agriculturalist and a businessman.
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari received a Master of Arts degree in 2015 from Oxford where he studied history and politics.
Further as per the details submitted to ECP, former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who has done his Master of Science (MSc), is a freelance lecturer by profession.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said he has done his Matric and is a religious preacher.
While, Jamat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq has shared that he has done his Master’s and Qaumi Watan Party’s head Aftab Sherpao has listed himself as a graduate and a landlord.
According to his nomination papers, Awami National Party’s Asfandywar Wali has done his B-Com and is a landlord and businessman by profession.
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervaiz Khattak has claimed to have done his Matric and is a businessman. Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid also claims to be a businessman and has shared that he is a MA LLB.
Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal has said that he holds a MBA and is a business consultant in his details submitted to the ECP.
According to ECP notification, June 30 (Saturday) has been set as the last day for the allotment of election symbols, while June 29 as the last day to withdraw candidature for the elections. The ECP will also publish the final list of contestants on June 30.
On Friday, the deadline for candidates to submit their party tickets for those to withdraw their nomination papers ended at 4pm on Friday.After election tribunals wrapped up verdicts on appeals against objections to the decisions of returning officers on June 27, the revised list of candidates was issued on June 28.
Yesterday was the last day for candidates vying to contest the General Election 2018 to submit their party tickets and for those unwilling to take part in the poll contest to withdraw their nomination papers.
Moreover, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated yesterday that it will announce the polling scheme and final list of candidates with electoral symbols toداے.It is mandatory for the candidates to submit their party tickets in order to be allotted electoral symbols. Those who fail to do so will be considered independent candidates.
The ECP stated that the final list of candidates will be displayed at the offices of the returning officers and district returning officers today, following which it will be uploaded on the commission’s website.
Moreover, the electoral body asserted that candidates will have a total of 23 days to hold their campaigns, as all campaigning will seize 48 hours before polling.
The elections are scheduled to be held on July 25, 2018 from 8am to 6pm.
The troops killed three youth in Thamuna area of Pulwama and one at Tunga-Kachama in Kupwara during cordon and search operations. The troops also destroyed a residential house at Thamuna.
People took to the streets in Chatpora and Thamuna areas in Pulwama and staged forceful demonstrations against the operation. The troops fired bullets, pellets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters, triggering severe clashes. One more youth was martyred while several others were injured in the troops’ action.
Meanwhile, two Indian soldiers were injured in an attack on a patrolling party of Indian Army in Ahgam area of Shopian district.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference and the Hurriyat forum led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in their statements in Srinagar expressed serious concern over horrific and fearful atmosphere created by the Indian forces’ personnel through frequent night raids on the residences of pro-freedom leaders and activists. They said that despite Indian state terrorism, the Kashmiri people would take their freedom movement to its logical conclusion, come what may.
The Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in a meeting presided over by its Chairman, Shabbir Ahmed Dar, in Srinagar paid glowing tributes to a boy, Khalid Sharif, of Sopore on his 9th martyrdom anniversary. The meeting was attended by Muhammad Sultan Magray, Merajuddin Soleh, Bashir Ahmed and Ghulam Nabi Waseem. Hurriyat leaders, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash, Javaid Ahmed Mir, Mukhtar Ahmed Waza and Imtiyaz Ahmad Reshi addressing gatherings in different areas said that the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs will not be allowed to go waste and their mission will be accomplished at all costs.
Dukhtaran-e-Millat in a statement in Srinagar rejecting the latest recommendation of the Indian Home Ministry asking the National Investigation Agency to file a fresh FIR against the party Chairperson, Aasiya Andrabi, termed it another ploy of India to muzzle the genuine Kashmiri voices.
On the other hand, Kashmiri representatives including Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Parvaiz Ahmed Shah and Mrs Shameem Shawl addressing the UN Road Conference in Geneva called upon the World Body to help in resolving the Kashmir dispute by granting the Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
A large number of party women ended their protest against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership after party chief Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Maneka “persuaded” them to forget differences and run party’s campaign for upcoming general elections, ARY News reported on Friday.
According to Sources, Bushra Maneka personally met the disgruntled party women and narrated to them, the “tales of Imran Khan’s struggle” which led them to end their protest and willfully run the election campaign for party’s chosen candidates.
Party leader Fatima Usman told media that she burst into tears after listening to Bushra Bibi’s speech and now has decided to run the party’s campaign “no matter she gets the ticket or not”.
Sadia Sohail, another PTI leader, said that the women have ended their protest and instead felicitated Imran Khan for setting foot in his new residence in Lahore.
“Bushra Bibi is a wonderful and compassionate human being,” said one party woman.
It is pertinent to note here that a number of party women were angry over distribution of party tickets in Lahore for upcoming general elections.
The women were of the view that they had sacrificed and contributed a lot to party’s success but the tickets were awarded to turn coats.
Waseem Sheikh, the PML-N candidate for NA-137, Kasur, was sentenced to one month in prison for contempt of court.
Waseem Sheikh and others were accused of organizing an “anti-judiciary” rally after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif in July last year.
“The PML-N is being target because it is winning,” Maryam Nawaz said, adding that “do whatever you want but you can’t stop the people on the polling day”.
The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the case regarding the acceptance of Dar’s nomination papers in the recent Senate elections.
The CJP questioned why Dar did not show up in court despite being summoned to which his counsel said he was unwell.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that the former finance minister seems healthy when he appears on TV shows but submits medical reports when the court summons him.
The petitioner had claimed an absconder cannot be elected to the august house.
Dar was elected senator in March on technocrats seat from Punjab but his election was challenged on the grounds that he is facing corruption charges in the accountability court and has been declared an absconder.
PTI central senior vice president Babar Awan, in his letter written to the chief election commissioner, said that as per the article of 2018/3 of the constitution Election Commission of Pakistan was responsible for the free, impartial and transparent conduct of General Election 2018.“However, the Punjab governor’s affiliation with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is a bottleneck in the way for free and fair election and provision of equal opportunities to all political parties.PTI’s leader and prominent lawyer mentioned that Governor Rajwana’s son, Asif Rajwana, had also been PML-N nominee from Punjab Assembly constituency PP-214.
He lamented that the resources of Governor House were being wasted in favour of the aforementioned party.
The PTI leader requested the chief election commissioner to take immediate notice of the matter.
The notice has been sent to Nawaz’s Jati Umra residence in Lahore. However, at present the prime minister is in London with his family to tend to his ailing wife.
The petition has been filed by Awami Tehreek’s Niaz Inquilabi, who has stated that Nawaz was disqualified from Parliament by the Supreme Court and thus a political party cannot be named after a disqualified person.
The ECP has been pleaded in the petition to take appropriate action in this regard in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had directed candidates to submit party affiliation certificate to their respective Returning Officers (ROs) till 4pm.
The Commission had made it clear that party symbols would not be allotted to those who fail to submit their party affiliation certificates.
Hundreds of candidates across the country including Dr Azra Afzal Palejo from NA-213, Javed Hashmi from NA-155 and NA-157 and Shah Farman from NA-29 have withdrawn their nomination papers on the last day.
The ECP will tomorrow (Saturday) allot the election symbols to the candidates.
The candidates who couldn’t submit their party tickets would be considered as independent candidates, while PTI chairman Imran Khan also submitted his party ticket for NA-131 Lahore. His ticket was handed over to Returning Officer by his lawyer.
On the other hand, MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar has also submitted his documents. He decided to contest election from NA-245 and NA-243.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has issued polling scheme for upcoming general elections.
The scheme issued for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies has also been uploaded on the Commission s website.
The scheme includes number of polling stations, polling booths, and number of votes at every polling station. Census code and details of the area are also part of the scheme.
Later today, returning officers will issue a final list of the candidates while tomorrow election symbols will be allotted to final candidates.
The provincial election commissioners will also issue a list of candidates for special seats of Sindh today. The candidates including Dr Farooq Sattar, Khawaja Haris, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui will withdraw their nomination papers from various constituencies.
The nomination papers of Bijarani’s sole competitor were rejected by the returning officer (RO).
The returning officer issued a public notice declaring Bijarani winner in the said constituency.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan spokesperson, if any candidate is contesting unopposed then a public notice over the candidate’s win is issued, adding that the notification regarding the win will be issued after the July 25 elections.
Interestingly, Mir Shabbir Ahmed Bijarani had earlier announced parting ways with the PPP and joining the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA). However, it was later reported that he rejoined the PPP and settled his differences following a meeting with party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad.
Bijarani is also the son of deceased PPP leader Mir Hazaar Khan Bijarani, who had shot dead his wife and then committed suicide with the same weapon.
Former Sindh Planning and Development Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and his wife Fariha Razak Haroon were found dead at their home here in Karachi's Defence locality on February 2.
According to rescue officials, the accident occurred on Link Road in Model Town, which resulted in eight people being crushed under the rubble resulting in being seriously injured.
According to details, the rescue teams arrived on the scene of the incident and gave first aid to three of the injured on the spot, while the remaining five were shifted to a nearby hospital for further medical treatment.
The city and its surroundings also experienced intermittent rain last night which still continues, turning the weather pleasant after a months-long spell of heat.
Moreover, the ongoing rain once again led to the tripping of over 100 feeders of the Lahore Electricity Supply Company.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi, suspended the appellate tribunal’s judgment and allowed Abbasi’s candidature.
Yesterday, the bench heard Abbasi’s appeal against the election tribunal’s decision of disqualifying the former premier for life for “concealing facts and withholding information”.
Abbasi challenges election tribunal verdict disqualifying him for life
The tribunal’s decision read that Abbasi doesn’t fulfill requirements under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution. The court also sent a notice to the returning officer who rejected the nomination papers.
Abbasi’s appeal, against the verdict authored by Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi, filed in LHC by Abbasi’s counsel Khawaja Tariq Rahim, asserts that the appellate tribunal’s jurisdiction only extended to approving or rejecting returning officer’s stance. “It cannot disqualify a candidate for life,” stresses the petition.
The former premier had prayed to the high court to set aside the verdict in NA-57 (Murree) by Justice Lodhi.
Talking to media men after submitting her party ticket to the returning officer in Karachi she said accountability should be started from home.
She also has said that PPP will win general elections in the provinces on performance basis as it has carried out development work across the province from Karachi to Kashmore.
NAB has requested 23 names to be put on the ECL, out of which two are provincial secretaries. Ali Khan Jan, the secretary primary and secondary healthcare Punjab, Gujranwala Waste Management Company CEO Dr Ataal Haq and Haroon Ashraf’s name has been requested to be put on the list.
Other names that the NAB has requested to be put on the list include Okara Deputy Commissioner Aslam Qasmi, Faisalabad member price committee Arshad Ahmed, Mian Latif, Ali Bajwa and Muhammad Aslam.
In the letter, the anti-corruption body has requested that the head of the Lahore Waste Management Company, Waseem Ajmal, Knowledge Park Company CEO Shahid Zaman, Paragon city manager Shehzad Waheed and director finance Farhan Ali to be put on the ECL.
The bureau has also requested, development partners LDA City Malik Asif, Mian Tahir Jawed, Abdur Rasheed, Shahid Shafeeq, Imran, Rana Muhammad Arif, Jamil Ahmed, Khalid Majeed, Najam Shah, Rashid Majeed and Syed Furrukh Ali Shah’s names to be added to the list.
Speaking to media outside Supreme Court, Kamal maintained that their petition pertaining to census issue has been accepted for hearing.
“There are problems in the census issue. The apex court has also accepted it. Former Sindh CM should have raised the matter but he silently signed the paper. The population of Lahore is being increased by three percent annually,” maintained the PSP chief.
Mustafa Kamal claimed that they will bring forward the Chief Minister from PSP or the one backed by their party after general elections.
“You cannot practice politics in Karachi by establishing a fort. Hatred was being spread on the basis of language but now no bloodshed will occur in Karachi. MQM should issue list of their criminal members,” said Kamal.
The individuals were accused of holding an anti-judiciary rally and shouting slogans against the judiciary in Kasur.
A three-member bench of the high court, chaired by Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, announced the verdict that had been earlier reserved.
Former MNA Waseem, former senior vice chairman of PML-N's Kasur wing Jameel Khan, former Kasur Bait-ul-Maal chairman Nasir Khan, and former vice chairman of Kasur's municipality department Ahmed Lateef were handed down a one-month imprisonment sentence along with a Rs100,000-fine each.
Moreover, former MPA Naeem Safdar and former chairman of Kasur's municipality department Haji Ayaz, were exonerated by the court.
The chief justice heard the appeal inside his chamber, where PSP chief and former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal was present.
After a brief hearing, PSP’s appeal was accepted by the chief justice and the registrar office’s objections were dismissed.
In his decision, Chief Justice Nisar observed that the hearing on the petition will be held after the general election, due on July 25, as any proceedings prior to that could impact the polls.
In the petition, the PSP has claimed that the population census conducted earlier this year has undercounted Karachi’s population, which in reality is over 30 million.
The census showed the city’s population as around 15 million.
Kamal, while addressing the media outside the apex court, stated that thousands of people arrive in Karachi every year and settle there. He added that despite the influx, population counts of Karachi’s rural and urban areas show a decrease in numbers.
Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the case. “Your written reply does not bear those apology words which should have been present as per legal requirement,” remarked the judge.
“Yesterday a person was disqualified. He was saying outside the court that he had never tendered an apology,” added the judge.
Iqbal reiterated that he has complete regard for the courts and always bowed down before the law. “I have narrowly escaped death. Designations hold no importance near me,” Iqbal asserted.
The court while adjourning the hearing till Monday asked Iqbal to resubmit reply in the case.
Speaking to media outside court, the PML-N leader said that one-sided actions are being taken against PML-N.
“The support of public for PML-N is increasing day by day due to the revenge activities against us. We do not need to be foes with Imran Khan. The nation will reject them after July 25,” maintained Iqbal.
“At present PTI is the amalgamation of PML-Q and PPP former members. Imran is still a noob in politics,” declared the former minister.
This was stated by Chinese defence ministry spokesman, Wu Qian while speaking at monthly briefing in Beijing.
He also informed that Pakistan and India along with other Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states would participate in the “Peace Mission” joint military drill to be held in Russia in the latter half of this year.
As per the revised timings, polling will now be held from 8am to 6pm, for a total of 10 hours without any recess.
Sources said this is the first time the polling duration has been extended across the board in the country's electoral history.
Interestingly, the ECP rejected on Wednesday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) request to extend polling time for the upcoming election.
The electoral body remarked that the polling time will be from 8am to 5pm, adding that it cannot be extended.
The polling time will be extended in a situation of extreme emergency on the day of the election, the ECP had noted.
On Tuesday, Imran Khan-led PTI had written a letter to secretary ECP requesting for an extension in the polling for elections.
The party feared that the hot weather will deter people from leaving their houses in the morning to cast their votes, therefore, ECP should extend the polling time.
The returning officer announced that Hashmi will not be contesting from NA-155 and NA-158 constituencies of Multan, Hashmi's hometown.
In a press conference on Sunday, Hashmi, an old guard of the PML-N who recently rejoined the party after spending around three years in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, had announced his withdrawal from the election.
Hashmi had said he withdrew as the party did not award him a ticket but assured that he would support whoever contests the elections from the party's platform.
He stated that he wants to work as a party worker and will campaign for party candidates across the country if called to do so.
The veteran politician and proponent of democracy has been contesting elections since the 1980s and was considered a loyalist of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif before leaving the party in 2011.
Late last year, he rejoined the PML-N after having become disgruntled with the PTI.
Nawaz and his family are facing three corruption cases in the accountability court after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed references against them in light of the Supreme Court's verdict in the Panama Papers case last year.
As the hearing went under way, the defence counsel presented prosecution witness Mazhar Raza Bangash's letter, questioning its authenticity.
"Bangash said he presented the record in a sealed envelope, however, NAB's witness Zawar Manzoor has said that the envelope was not sealed," Pervez said.
He argued that the documents submitted by Bangash were photocopies and thus could not be made part of the court's record as per Pakistan's Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (Law of Evidence).
Pervez contended that it was to be seen if the verdict of Queen's bench was admissible evidence, adding that the summary of even that decision was not related to indictment.
The defence lawyer also objected to the absence of Shezi Naqvi who had submitted an affidavit in the case. He further said that Rehman Malik's report was not official and even the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had not accepted it.
Nawaz is neither the owner of the London flats and nor occupied them since 1993, Pervez said. He further added that the Sharif family may have been linked to the property at some point but Nawaz was never associated with the London flats.
The court then summoned Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director Wajid Zia, who headed the Panama case joint investigation team (JIT), on July 3 for the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference.
The hearing was later adjourned till July 2.
Inspector General (IG) of Police Sindh Amjad Javed Saleemi was the guest of honour at the passing out event. He was joined by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Balochistan Ashraf Zubair and Commandant Razzaqabad Training Centre Tanveer Alam, among others.
The passing out batch consisted of 700 men and women, with 217 women taking part in the passing out parade. Out of 483 men passing out, 213 belonged to Balochistan while 270 of those were from Sindh.
Speaking at the passing out ceremony, IG Sindh Saleemi said the men and women passing out had successfully taken part in a three-month robust training program. He added, he was proud of the youth that was passing out today and would be taking on crime in the city.
Saleemi also congratulated the training officers involved and hoped that the newly-inducted policemen and women will make them proud.
Electables are indispensible
On question about preferring electables over ideological stalwarts, Khan confessed to presence of disappointment among party’s ranks. However, he termed the strategy ‘indispensable’ for winning general polls 2018. He said, “I can only do something if I win [elections 2018]. Upcoming polls will be swansong for Sharif family”.
Ex-wife Reham Khan
On question about character assassination drive ahead of general polls, Khan lambasted Sharif brothers for resorting to cheap tactics. “I am an angel when compared with Sharif brothers. I have never seen anyone falling that low as Sharif brothers have. They paid [money to Reham Khan] for writing the book. They [read Sharif brothers] didn’t even spare late Benazir Bhutto and Nusrat Bhutto”, regretted Khan.
“Sharifs will earn nothing but opprobrium after release of Reham Khan’s book”, forecasted Khan.
Khan observed that character assassination drive kick off every time when the elections are around the corner.
On rumors of Daniyal-Reham telephonic contact, Khan made it overtly clear that there was no truth in these allegations.
Pandemonium blanketing Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar shrine’s visit
On a question about pandemonium blanketing his visit to Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar shrine, Khan denied accusations that he had offered a Sajda while making it crystal clear that he kissed the floor of the shrine out of respect for services rendered by great Sufi Saint for cause of Islam.
Khan went on to say that Sufism helps individuals in curbing their egos. Khan regretted that fatwas were being issued against him without differentiating between a kiss and Sajda.
On plummeting economy
Khan deplored that country’s economic indicators were plummeting at rapid pace. “Pakistan is heading towards complete annihilation as overall debt volume has augmented to Rs27000 billion. A complete reorientation of policies is required to overhaul the faults in economy”, apprised Khan.
Khan vowed to collect Rs8000 billion tax if he came to power. “Imran Khan will not spend tax money on his own personality”, he added.
After election tribunals wrapped up verdicts on appeals against objections to the decisions of returning officers on June 27, the revised list of candidates was issued on June 28.
The electoral body will announce the final list of candidates later today. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday asked candidates to submit party affiliation certificates by June 29.
It is mandatory for the candidates to submit their party tickets in order to be allotted their electoral symbols. Those who fail to do so will be considered independent candidates. The elections are scheduled to be held on July 25, 2018.
Verdict on Abbasi's appeal expected today
The Lahore High Court is expected to announce its verdict on former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's appeal against the verdict of an appellate tribunal that disqualified him from contesting the polls from NA-57 Murree.
The appellate election tribunal found Abbasi guilty of "concealing facts and withholding information from voters" in his nomination forms submitted for NA-57 Murree — his home constituency.
In its written verdict, the tribunal said that Abbasi does not meet the requirements under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of Pakistan. The former premier, in a statement to the media, had vowed to challenge the verdict which he said exceeded the mandate of the tribunal.
Poll preparations
Preparations of the upcoming elections are under way, with the ECP making arrangments to ensure smooth and transparent elections.
On June 26, the polling scheme for Lahore was finalised, which contained constituency-wise lists of polling stations, number of registered voters, and other relevant details. Similar schemes for other areas are yet to be announced.
The printing of ballot papers will commence from July 1 at printing presses in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi under the supervision of the army. According to sources, 210 million ballot papers will be printed with more than Rs2 billion being spent on the exercise, making it the most expensive venture in the history of the country's elections.
The ballot papers are said to carry a watermark, something which none of the previous papers had. The distribution of ballot papers will also be conducted under the army's supervision.
The ECP has also requested the Defence Ministry to deploy 350,000 army personnel to be posted inside and outside the polling stations. The troops will be deployed for a total of four days leading upto the election day.
ECP has also ordered provincial governments to provide security to all candidates and political leaders. The commission, in a letter to all four provincial governments, has directed the respective chief secretaries to ensure security arrangements for the candidates and leaders of political parties, sources privy to the matter said.
The ECP has also asked the relevant authorities to install CCTV cameras in sensitive polling stations for monitoring.
A total of 987 officers were considered for promotion by the meeting of Promotion Board chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters here Thursday.
Those promoted include Brigadier Babar Iftikhar, Brigadier Muhammad Ahmed Malik, Brigadier Irfan Arshad, Brigadier Muhammad Shahbaz Khan, Brigadier Tahir Hameed Shah, Brigadier Irfan Ahmed Malik, Brigadier Raza Ali Khan, Brigadier Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Brigadier Zahid Sarwar Malik, Brigadier Kashif Nazir, Brigadier Adnan Asif Jah Shad, Brigadier Muhammad Zahid Khan, Brigadier Ghulam Jafar, Brigadier Muhammad Munir Afsar, Brigadier Yusuf Jamal, Brigadier Ehsan Mehmood Khan, Brigadier Muhammad Yousaf Majoka, Brigadier Asad Nawaz, Brigadier Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan, Brigadier Mumtaz Hussain, Brigadier Khurram Sarfraz Khan, Brigadier Nayyar Naseer, Brigadier Amer Ahsan Nawaz, Brigadier Najeeb Ahmad, Brigadier Kamran Khurshid, Muhammad Asim Iqbal, Brigadier Muhammad Ayub Ahsan Bhatti Brigadier Hassan Akhtar Kayani.
Those approved from Army Medical Corps include Brigadier Malik Muhammad Masud, Brigadier Muhammad Salman Ashraf, Brigadier Chaudhary Muhammad Qamar Ul Haq Noor, Brigadier Syed Raza Jaffar, Brigadier Khursheed Muhammad Uttra, Brigadier Mrs Shehla Baqai, Brigadier Wasim Alamgir, Brigadier Muhammad Asad Qureshi, Brigadier Rasikh Maqsood.
“You should never consider your political opponent weak,” he remarked while addressing party workers in NA-131 (Lahore) constituency.
The competition for the NA-131 (Lahore) will be tough as Imran will go against former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.
“The competition in NA-131 will be quite close,” Imran remarked, adding that PTI leader Waleed Iqbal will lead the party’s electoral campaign in NA-131.
He also said that Lahore will make the decision for Punjab, and Punjab for the rest of Pakistan. “Those who indulge in politics of interests will be defeated.”
Pakistan's fate will be sealed on July 25, he remarked.
The cricketer-turned-politician also said that political bigwigs are joining PTI now.
Earlier in the day, the party workers protested outside party chief Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence against the ‘unfair’ distribution of tickets for the upcoming general election.
Several workers gathered outside Imran’s residence and chanted slogans shunning “injustice within the party”.
PTI hopeful from PP-170, Saif-ur-Rehman claimed that following his appeal the party took back the ticket issued for the constituency from Aoun Chaudhry’s brother.
“But instead of giving the ticket to me, it was issued to Aoun Chaudhry’s sister-in-law,” Rehman lamented.
According to sources, district administration tried to keep the schedule of Imran’s visit to Lahore a secret as they expected protests from workers. “However, workers still managed to gather outside his residence,” the sources said.
Imran reached Lahore earlier today along with his wife, Bushra Maneka, after a stop-over at Baba Fariduddin's shrine in Pakpattan.
