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GOVT TO LOOK INTO COMPLAINTS ABOUT ‘HURDLES’ IN ELECTORAL PROCESS: PM KAKAR
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Sunday, 24 December, 2023 I 10 Jamada Al-Sani, 1445
PEOPLE FREE TO VOTE FOR CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE. NO POLICY TO OUST ANYONE FROM POLITICAL PROCESS: PM
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ISLAMABAD
SAYS ELECTION COMMISSION TO DECIDE ON QUALIFICATION, DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES
STAFF REPORT
ARETAKER Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Saturday assured that the government would investigate the complaints about hurdles to stop some people from taking part in the electoral process. In an interview with a private television, he said, “People are free to vote for the candidates of their choice. There is no policy to oust anyone from the political process.” He said in his opinion those who showed disruptive behaviour and were involved in the incidents of May 9 should not be allowed to hold public office. “However, the Election Commission will decide about qualification and disqualification of candidates.” He agreed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a whole should not be related to the May 9 incidents and people should have a choice to vote for it in the election. But those who were involved in the May 9 incident should face law of the land, he asserted adding police were acting against only those who were directly and indirectly involved in the incidents of May 9. He said in 2013 and 2018 he voted for PTI as he wanted a better structure of governance and better facilities of health
and education for people. “State is a guarantor of the social order and when anyone challenges this order he is an anarchist,” he said while discussing the incidents of May 9. He said Imran Khan was arrested due to an allegation and he could have received relief from the court but his party resorted to violence which led to the present circumstances. Social unrest and chaos on May 9 endangered the security of Pakistan and could have severe implications for the state of Pakistan, he said adding maintenance of public order was a lawful tool
Key witnesses including Azam Khan record statements in cypher case RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
The prosecution’s key witnesses, including ex-premier Imran Khan’s principal secretary Azam Khan and then ambassador to US Asad Majeed Khan recorded their statement on Saturday in the cypher case. Besides the two, former executive magistrate Ubaid Arshad, assistant cypher operation Nauman and the secretary of Ministry of Interior Aftab Ahmed Khan recorded their statements before special court Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, who presided over the opentrial hearing at Rawalpindi Central Jail. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief’s wife, his sisters, along with former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s family were present in the courtroom. Before the hearing, the prosecution brought forth 22 prosecution witnesses. These include Azam Khan, Sohail Mehmood, Asad Majeed, Hidayatullah, Muhammad Ashfaq, Hidayatullah Batini, Haseeb Gohar, Nadir Khan, Shamoon Abbas, Farrukh Abbas, Ayoub Chaudhry, Aftab Akbar Durrani, Adnan Arshad, Shujaat, Afzal, Jawaid, Abdul Jabbar, Ubaid Arshad Bhatti, Faisal Niaz, Nauman Ullah, Sajid Mehmood and Muhammad Nauman, arrived at Adiala jail on Saturday. Earlier, in October this year, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had submitted a list of 28 witnesses in the cypher case against Imran and Qureshi, according to a copy of the indictment. A day earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) granted both PTI leaders bail in the cypher case as there was no sufficient incriminating material to show that Imran had revealed the informer in the diplomatic document to the general public. However, their immediate release from Adiala jail is hindered by their involvement in other ongoing cases. The case originated from Imran’s public display of a paper during a rally in Islamabad on March 27, 2022, claiming it as evidence of an “international conspiracy” before a vote of no-confidence led to his government’s ouster. The FIA initiated its probe into the so-called “cypher-gate” on July 19, 2023, after the previous coalition government announced an official inquiry against the former prime minister and his close associates for violating the OSA.
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and the administration was using it for decades to confine the movement of people as a preemptive measure. Talking about the protesters from Balochistan who came to Islamabad, he said everyone had the right to protest with lawful behaviour. However, if a situation of law and order would be created then law enforcement agencies would come into action, he clarified. The provincial government of Balochistan and a cabinet committee was formed to look into the issues raised by the protesters, he told. He said Balochistan was plagued
with terrorism for the last two decades, and particularly in the last two months, terrorism had risen in the country. “Our society and state is faced with the issue of terrorism.” In some recent incidents, 15 people were burnt at the coastal highway in Balochistan, labourers were martyred at a police station in Turbat while the Hazara community was targetted in the past, he narrated, adding however not much voice was raised by the civil society about these incidents. He expressed concern over the lack of support from political and civil organizations for the martyrs of law enforcement agencies. He said religious and ethnic-inspired violence could not be given acceptability, adding only the state had the right to use force to protect unarmed civilians. “If we demoralize our security forces how we can fight the war against terrorism,” he asked. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said there was no doubt that Israel was an illegal entity and there was no suggestion under consideration to recognize Israel. Netanyahu was a war criminal and war crimes of Israel should be investigated as 7000 children were martyred, he said adding Pakistan wanted to send relief to Palestinians and raise voice at the international forums including Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the rights of Palestinians.
Imran moves SC against conviction in Toshakhana case ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan moved the Supreme Court on Saturday regarding the suspension of his conviction in the Toshakhana case until the final judgement on his appeal pending in the federal capital’s high court. Represented by Advocate Latif Khosa, Imran appealed against the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision, emphasising that challenging this ruling is his prerogative and argued that being declared ineligible before the elections infringes upon his fundamental rights. The PTI founder raised concerns about the election commission’s swift decision which he contended displayed bias. Imran requested the apex court to nullify the IHC decision and suspend the sentencing in the Toshakhana case. Expressing the urgency of the matter, the PTI founder urged the apex court to expedite proceedings, emphasising on the upcoming general elections. He stressed that the leader of the country’s “largest political party” should not be excluded from participating in the electoral process and requested the suspension of the decision in the Toshakhana case to enable his participation. The capital’s high court on Tuesday dismissed Imran’s application seeking suspension of his conviction in the gift repository case. This order has effectively eliminated the possibility of the PTI founder contesting the upcom-
Court grants bail to 162 arrested Baloch protestors ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The court of a judicial magistrate in the federal capital on Saturday approved bail of 162 arrested Baloch protestors – marching for the release of Baloch ‘missing persons’ in the federal capital. According to details, Judicial Magistrate Murid Abbas approved the bail of 162 arrested Baloch protestors and directed them to submit a surety bond of Rs5,000 against their bail. The Apex Law Associates had filed bail applications for them, according to Islamabad police. At least 50 Baloch women protesters have been released, following the orders of Islamabad High Court on Friday, BBC Urdu reported earlier in the day. The Islamabad police had subsequently used brutal force to disperse and detain Baloch demonstrators with over 200 protesters taken into custody from different areas of the federal capital. The demonstrators were also met with tear gas, water cannons and police batons. The events were strongly condemned by human rights organisations, politicians and analysts. On Thursday evening, the government said 90 percent of the Baloch men and women taken into custody were released, except for the men who “could not be identified” by police. The police actions were censured by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, President Dr Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar as well. Yesterday, President Dr Arif Alvi and Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaarul Haq Kakar held a telephonic conversation wherein they expressed concern over the inappropriate police treatment of the Baloch protestors. Discussing the situation, the president and prime minister viewed that the police should not have dealt with the protestors strictly, a President House press release said. Meanwhile, PM Kakar told President Alvi that the detained protestors were being released on personal bonds. Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar also called on President Alvi and discussed the overall situation in Balochistan province as well as police maltreatment against the Baloch protestors. The governor viewed that the police should show restraint towards the protestors. Yesterday, the Islamabad Police had informed the Islamabad High Court that there was no woman in their custody and everyone was released. Islamabad Inspector General of Police Akbar Nisar had also informed the IHC chief justice on Friday that “no women were in their custody.” Attaullah Kundi, the lawyer from the arrested protesters of the Baloch Yakjheti March, had informed the IHC that police forced all the women to board the buses. He quoted the SSP as saying that they have orders from the caretaker prime minister to send protesters back to Balochistan.
Fawad, Solangi, Governor Wali hold talks with BYC protesters ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
ing general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024. A division bench of the IHC presided over by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri unveiled its order on the former PM’s application requesting the IHC to modify its August 28 decision. A trial court on August 5 convicted the PTI founder in a case related to misuse of the state’s gift repository — Toshkhana — and sentenced him to three years in prison. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on August 8 disqualified Imran as a lawmaker given his conviction. The former premier approached the IHC against the trial court’s order and an IHC division comprising Justice Farooq and Justice Jahangiri on August 28 suspended his sentence. The crux of the accusations re-
volves around Imran and Bushra allegedly retaining gifts received during their official visits to foreign countries while Imran served as the prime minister. Instead of following the prescribed official protocol by depositing these gifts in the Toshakhana, the couple purportedly kept them and contributed an amount less than the stipulated value into the national treasury. Bushra, in particular, is accused of holding on to various jewellery items received as gifts during official visits. The list of allegedly retained gifts includes a locket, two rings, two ear tops, and two bracelets received on June 26, 2019. In 2020, she reportedly acquired a diamond-studded gold necklace, ring, bracelet, and ear tops. The list expanded in 2021 with the addition of a necklace, earrings, ring, and bracelet.
Caretaker Minister for Privatization Fawad Hasan Fawad, caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi and members of the cabinet committee established by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar along with Balochistan Governor Malik Wali Kakar on Saturday held talks with the protesters of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) who had come from Balochistan. Discussions were held in a very good atmosphere from both sides and both sides agreed to continue negotiations, said a press release issued here. Both sides expressed willingness to resume talks tomorrow (Sunday). The Baloch protesters demanding an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in their province issued a three-day ultimatum to the state on Saturday, calling for the immediate release of all demonstrators detained so far and the quashing of charges against them, failing which the demonstrators would be “compelled to take harsh steps and the state and its administration shall be responsible for this”. The demands were issued by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) as they claimed in a statement to the press that over 100 previously detained members were not presented in courts and thus “missing” while they continued their rally outside Islamabad’s National Press Club (NPC) amid the presence of the police.
PTI to move SC to regain ‘bat’ as electoral symbol RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) now-former chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Saturday announced that the party would approach the Peshawar High Court (PHC) or the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision stripping of the former ruling party’s iconic election symbol — ‘bat’. The PTI will likely be playing its election innings without the symbol as the ECP had a day earlier termed its intra-party polls “unconstitutional” and revoked its claim on the electoral symbol. Talking to journalists outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Barrister Gohar said that PTI’s petition for regaining the ‘bat’ electoral symbol would be filed on Tuesday morning, adding that consultation in this regard had almost been completed. Without naming the ECP, the PTI leader said that all of their efforts were aimed at depriving his party of the 227 reserved seats. The PTI leader saw a conspiracy behind the ECP’s recent order.
A day earlier, he had said: “Currently, there are 70 reserved seats in the National Assembly. The total number of reserved seats in Pakistan is 227. The seats are divided among those parties who have election symbols [as par their parties’ strength in the assemblies].” The lawmakers elected on reserved seats play a crucial role during the elections for the slots of president, prime minister, chief minister, and Senate chairman. Responding to a question today, Gohar: “ECP’s order is not sustainable. It is contradictory.” He was confident that PTI would get relief when they challenged the order in the court. “[PTI’s] electoral symbol will be restored,” hoped Gohar, who is also a lawyer by profession. The PTI leader said that his party was waiting for the certified copy of the ECP. To another query, the lawyer said that the PTI could challenge the ECP’s order in the apex court under Article 184 of the Constitution. “Imran Khan was, is and will be the chairman of the PTI,” the barrister said, adding that he was fulfilling the responsibilities assigned by Khan. Gohar further said that he would continue to deliver the respon-
sibilities until Khan comes out of jail. Talking about the level playing field, he said that PTI candidates were not being allowed to submit their nomination papers for the upcoming general elections in the country, slated to be held on February 8. To a question about Khan’s jail trial, the lawyer termed the process “illegal and in violation of the IHC’s order”. In November, the IHC nullified the notification for conducting former prime minister’s jail trial on charges of leaking state secrets — issued on August 29. However, the special court established under Official Secrets Act had resumed the cipher trial afresh last week at the Adiala jail after Khan was indicted for a second time in the case on December 13. “All this is being done to keep PTI out of politics,” Unfair election would lead to chaos and anarchy in the country, warned the PTI leader. On her part, Aleema Khan — Khan’s sister — said they were all set to file cases in the US and UK tomorrow against the PTI founder’s detention.
PTI legal team in Peshawar to move PHC against withdrawal of bat symbol
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Saturday decided to knock the door of Peshawar High Court against ‘depriving’ the party of electoral symbol bat by Election Commission of Pakistan. After announcement of verdict by the ECP on Friday, the PTI legal team members reached Peshawar High Court on Saturday to file a case. Sources said the PTI had not received verified written order by the ECP so far. The party said it will challenge the ECP decision as it receives verified decision of the commission. The party further said if it does not receive the verified copy, even then it will move the court against the decision. However, the court can object to non-submission of verified copy of the ECP decision with the appeal. Earlier on Friday, the electoral watchdog ruled that the party did not hold the elections in line with its constitution, the Election Act,
2017, and the Election Rules, 2017, and was thus ineligible to obtain the election symbol of ‘bat’. A five-member bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, gave the decision on the petitions challenging PTI’s intra-party elections. Other members of the bench included ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana and Justice (r) Ikramullah Khan. The reserved verdict was announced a day after the Peshawar High Court directed the ECP to decide the petitions filed against PTI’s intraparty elections in accordance with the law. In its decision, the ECP observed that “the PTI did not comply with the Commission’s directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017. STAFF REPORT