Pakistan

ECP delays issuing notification for reserved seats in Punjab Assembly

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

ECP says it will notify reserved seats after Punjab by-elections.
By-election will take place for 20 seats of the Punjab Assembly.
PTI wanted to get notification issued before the by-elections.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday ruled that the allocation of reserved seats — three women and two minorities — would be notified after the conclusion of the by-election for 20 vacant Punjab Assembly seats.

The seats — for which the by-elections will take place — fell vacant after the ECP had de-notified 25 PTI dissident MPAs — 20 general candidates, three women, and two minority members — who had voted for PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz against their party’s line during the Punjab chief minister’s election last month.

ECP’s five-member bench had reserved the verdict earlier today on the directions of the Lahore High Court (LHC) — which the PTI had moved last week for notifying new MPAs on reserved seats in the assembly.

The reserved seats are allocated to parties on the basis of the total number of general seats secured by each political party in the provincial assembly.

In a bid to secure the reserved seats, the PTI had asked the ECP to issue the notification based on the current numbers in the Punjab Assembly, but the election body ruled that it would notify the allocation of reserved seats once the by-election takes place on June 17 — and the new party position is formed.

The by-elections will take place on PP-7, PP-83, PP-90, PP-97, PP-125, PP-127, PP-140, PP-158, PP-167, PP-168, PP-170, PP-202, PP-217, PP-224, PP-228, PP-237, PP-272, PP-273, PP-282 Layyah, and PP-288.

Today’s hearing

During the hearing today, PTI’s counsel Faisal Chaudhry argued that if a lawmaker is disqualified under Article 63(A) of the Constitution, it is obligatory to notify another person on the reserved seat from the same party.

He maintained that the ECP has to issue a notification “immediately” in this regard under Article-224(6), adding that the PML-N in Punjab does not have the majority and, therefore, does not deserve to rule.

“In its plea, the PML-N misinterpreted the Constitution,” the PTI’s lawyer argued, adding that nominations are made on the reserved seats under Article 106.

Faisal Chaudhry argued that no change could be made in the number of reserved seats under Section 104 of the Election Act, 2017.

For his part, PML-N’s lawyer Khalid Ishaq contended that the Election Commission should notify new MPAs following the current proportion in the Punjab Assembly.

“Article 226 can be read in conjunction with Article 106,” he said, citing that no clause can be read separately.

The PML-N’s lawyer highlighted that the electoral college is not complete for reserved seats hence Article 226 is not applicable.

“The Election Commission would have to consider the principle of proportional representation while nominating MPAs,” he said.

While presenting his argument, Attorney-General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf said that a decision, in this case, will have far-reaching consequences.

“Twenty of PTI’s seats have been reduced, after which they cannot have the same proportion. Nobody can tell which party will be successful in by-elections.”

The attorney-general said it would be “more appropriate” if the ECP waited until the by-elections.

Entertainment

UAE grants Aiman Khan a Golden Visa

Published

8 hours ago

Farwa

The actress Aiman Khan has notified her fans and followers that the United Arab Emirates has granted her a Golden Visa.

Renowned for her dramatic roles in plays like “Ghar Titli Ka Par,” “Meri Beti,” and “Ishq Tamasha,” Aiman Khan has been spotted putting more emphasis on her personal life with her spouse, fellow actress Muneeb Butt, and moving away from the entertainment industry recently.

Instagram users saw Aiman Khan post a photo of herself receiving the Golden Visa from UAE officials.

The actress was shown gratitude in the caption for the extraordinary hospitality and kind welcome she received from the Dubai government.

Aiman Khan is shown in the accompanying photo, probably when applying for a visa, looking smart in black among representatives from the United Arab Emirates.

Fascinatingly, Aiman Khan’s spouse, Muneeb Butt, previously uploaded a comparable Instagram picture revealing his triumphant Golden Visa acquisition.

Often taking his wife, Aiman Khan, along, Muneeb Butt travels to Dubai for business and pleasure. Even after their daughter Amal was born, the well-known couple continued to observe this habit.

Furthermore, Miral, their second daughter, made her first vacation outside of Pakistan when they recently took her to Dubai.

“Dubai holds a special place in my heart, from memorable vacations to productive work trips,” Muneeb Butt complimented in the description.

Business

Exchange achieves all-time high: KSE-100 index surpasses 72,500 points

Published

8 hours ago

Farwa

With the benchmark KSE-100 index hitting a record-breaking high of 72,501 points, the Karachi Stock Exchange saw yet another incredible rise.

Within Pakistan’s financial environment, investors demonstrated a strong sense of trust in the market as the bullish trend continued.

As a result of the significant inflow of investment and optimism among market players, the index had an amazing 450-point rise during the trading session.

In their analysis of the market’s remarkable performance, financial analysts pointed to a number of causes for the upward trend, such as encouraging economic data, robust company profits, and the government’s proactive measures to promote economic expansion.

The durability and upward momentum of the market have also been greatly aided by continuous infrastructural investments and efforts meant to boost investor confidence.

In the meantime, interbank rates increased by six paisas, and the US dollar’s value saw a slight rise in the currency market. As a result of the current market conditions and the dynamic nature of foreign exchange swings, the dollar was quoted at Rs 278.45 in the interbank market.

Education

Youth from North Waziristan are given an educational and recreational tour by the Pakistan Army.

Published

8 hours ago

Farwa

Youth from North Waziristan set off on a three-day enjoyable and enlightening excursion as part of the Pakistan Army’s “Ilm Tolo Da Para” project.

The young participants in the trip had a great time touring some of Islamabad’s most notable sites, such as the magnificent Faisal Mosque, Ayub Park, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Pakistan Monument Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, and the picturesque Lake View Park.

The Imam led an insightful workshop for the students at Faisal Mosque, exploring the mosque’s significance and its place in the history of the country.

The youth’s awareness of their country’s legacy was strengthened by their visits to the People’s Heritage and Pakistan Monument, which provided them with valuable insights into the sacrifices made during Pakistan’s founding.

As the eager young people engaged in exhilarating rides, games, and other leisure pursuits, Ayub National Park transformed into a playground where they made enduring memories.

The youth gave the Pakistan Army their sincere gratitude for organising this beneficial event that combined learning with leisure.