Page 69 - Pakistan

Pak SC rejects plea seeking re-election over allegations of rigging

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed as a publicity stunt a petition seeking new elections over alleged irregularities in the February 8 polls, clearing the way for the formation of a coalition government to end the political uncertainty in the country. The apex court also imposed a fine on the petitioner, a former army officer, over his failure to appear before the court. Retired Brigadier Ali Khan last week urged the apex court to order new elections within 30 days to be held under the direct supervision and oversight of the judiciary to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability. He had also sought a stay order to stop the formation of a new government till the case was decided. However, the petitioner failed to attend two consecutive hearings. Subsequently, a three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, and comprising of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, disposed of the plea and imposed a fine of Pakistani Rs ..

Who will be new finance minister to be the first challenge in Pakistan

Pakistan's political impasse may end with the formation of a coalition government but its economic worries may linger on primarily due to the dilemma of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party over the appointment of the finance minister of the cash-strapped country. In January, the cash-strapped country received over USD 700 million second tranche from the Washington-based global lender under the existing USD 3 billion SBA agreed towards June last year when Pakistan was slowly drifting towards default. Earlier this week, US-based Fitch Ratings one of three leading global rating agencies said in its report that a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal to succeed the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), expiring in March this year, was key to Pakistan's credit profile. Pakistan has not completed the last USD 6.5 billion IMF bailout package, and therefore, the first task of the new finance minister will be to sit with the Washington-based global lender to get the last loan tranche of USD

Pakistan's old-guard parties to form coalition to thwart Imran Khan

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party will join a coalition with the Sharif clan's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Bhutto Zardari said at a joint news conference in the capital Islamabad

Uncertain political situation in Pakistan poses threat to IMF deal: Fitch

Fitch further noted country's vulnerable external position meant that securing financing from multilateral and bilateral partners would an urgent issues on the agenda for the next govt

Pak court suspends election result of three constituencies in Islamabad

The general elections were held on February 8 and the results were delayed which caused widespread concerns that the delay was on purpose to change the results

China asks Pakistan's political parties to work together to form govt

Beijing is also bankrolling Pakistan, which is in the throes of an economic crisis, to maintain the balance of payments with periodic loans to maintain the requisite forex reserves

Pak's major parties struggle to form coalition after inconclusive election

Monday's talks will be the fifth such round after former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was named by his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party to lead the country again

At $365 billion, Tata Group's market cap more than Pakistan's economy

The market capitalisation of Tata Group stood at $365 billion, while the IMF estimated Pakistan's GDP to be almost $341 billion

Bilawal Bhutto rejects power-sharing formula for the post of Pakistan PM

Bhutto revealed that the PML-N suggested a time-sharing formula, proposing that they lead the government for three years, with the PPP taking over for the remaining two years

PML-N, PPP fail to decide power-sharing formula for govt formation

The talks between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party on a power-sharing formula for a coalition government remained inconclusive, though both sides claimed significant progress in the discussions, according to a media report on Sunday. The third meeting between the Contact and Coordination Committees (CCCs) of the two parties, which took place on Saturday, remained inconclusive and both decided to meet again on Monday to finalise the power-sharing formula. A brief announcement issued by the PML-N after the meeting said that there had been significant progress in talks with both sides, stressing the need for a strong democratic government. "The proposals put forth by both parties were thoroughly discussed, and while substantial progress was achieved, further deliberations are required to finalise the matters at hand," a joint statement read. Nawaz Sharif led PML-N has nominated Shehbaz Sharif for the Prime Minister's post. Independent candidates - a ...

Pakistan increases telecom towers in PoK to help terror groups: Report

The project for boosting telecom signals has been completely handed over to the Special Communication Organization (SCO) led by Pakistani army officer Maj Gen Umar Ahmad Shah, it said

'Pak Army gave 2 options to Sharif, premiership or CM slot for daughter'

Nawaz Sharif sacrificed his ambition to become Pakistan's prime minister for a record fourth term and nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif for the plum post as the powerful Army gave him two options either to choose the premiership or leave it to allow his daughter to become the chief minister of Punjab, according to party insiders. The nomination of Shehbaz Sharif for the slot of prime minister by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif has stirred quite a debate among the PML-N ranks who are questioning why the 74-year-old three-time premier was "sidelined" despite the earlier announcement on the premiership. Sources in the PML-N told the Press Trust of India here that Nawaz Sharif decided to withdraw himself from the race for the prime minister's office for his daughter and political heir, Maryam Nawaz, 50. "Nawaz Sharif could have become the prime minister to lead the coalition government for the fourth time but then his daughter would have no chance to ...

Imran's PTI to sit in Oppn in Pak Parl; to protest against poll rigging

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party has decided to sit in the Opposition in Parliament while launching a countrywide protest against alleged rigging in the elections after its efforts to form the next government failed. The major political parties in Pakistan have stepped up efforts to form a federal government after the February 8 elections delivered a split verdict.

Pak now an 'authoritarian regime', only Asian country in category: Report

Out of the 28 countries in the region that are included in the index, 15 recorded a decline in their score, and only eight registered an improvement

Pakistan polls to be remembered for biggest voter fraud: Imran's party

Independent candidates - a majority backed by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - won 93 of the 265 National Assembly seats that were contested in the February 8 election

Pakistan Army & art of elections

This is the first time in its history that Pakistan's people have risen to vote against the Army and defeat it. If this isn't a win for democracy, how would you describe it?

Jailed ex-PM Imran Khan's party claims his wife Bushra's life is in danger

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party has expressed concern about the health of his wife Bushra Biwi and claimed that there was a "serious threat" to her life and the fascist regime in Pakistan was denying her medical aid. Bushra Biwi, 49, is imprisoned at Khan's Bani Gala residence here after an accountability court sentenced the couple to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana corruption case last month. Khan, 71, is lodged at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Both of them have been convicted with multiple years' sentences in the Toshakhana expensive gift case and the iddat case which declared their marriage as un-Islamic. Bushra has already petitioned Islamabad High Court on February 6 against authorities' move to declare her residence as sub-jail and requested to move her to the Adiala Jail citing potential security issues.

Pak polls: PML-N leaders hold consultations with allies over Balochistan CM

According to Dawn, the former CM expressed contentment with PML-N's performance in the February 8 elections, highlighting the party's victory in 10 provincial and five national seats in the province

PML-N, PPP set to discuss power-sharing deal for coalition govt: Report

A second round of talks between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party is expected to take place on Friday on the power-sharing formula between them for the formation of a coalition government, according to a media report. The Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led PPP has promised to back PML-N in the formation of a government as well as the election of the next prime minister, on the condition that Nawaz Sharif's party will support them in elections to key constitutional offices like that of the President. A scheduled second round of talks between the Contact and Coordination Committees (CCCs) of the PPP and PML-N could not take place on Thursday, as both sides sought more time to assess proposals that came up in their first meeting. The next meeting between the two sides is likely to take place on Friday for clarity on the power-sharing formula, the Dawn newspaper reported. However, given the tough competition between individuals, nominating people to fill those ...

Pak polls: Imran Khan's PTI names PM choice, seeks to form coalition govt

Omar Ayub Khan, the PTI nominee for prime minister, said his first priority would be to release Imran Khan and other party leaders from jail