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‘It is becoming difficult for ECP to hold elections’

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  • Decision to move SC taken after legal opinion from experts.
  • Following PHC order, constituency is without a RO: ECP. 
  • ECP develops modern election management system.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has expressed concerns over the Peshawar High Court (PHC) order against the appointment of a returning officer, noting “it is becoming difficult” for the electoral body to hold polls, The News reported citing sources on Thursday.

The concerns were expressed in the ECP huddle on Wednesday, wherein the electoral decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the PHC order suspending the appointment of Irfanullah as RO for PK-91 Kohat-II.

Sources told The News the decision was taken after the ECP discussed threadbare the matter and sought legal opinion from the commission’s experts.

“The meeting noted that following the PHC order, the very constituency is now technically without a returning officer. In these circumstances, it is becoming difficult for the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct elections,” sources said, referring to the commission’s huddle here at its secretariat, after having received the provincial high court order.

They pointed out that under Article 218, it is the constitutional mandate of the Election Commission to conduct the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner and all the government institutions are bound to lend support and cooperation to it in carrying out the extremely important national duty.

Sources said the commission had another detailed meeting that discussed the Tuesday’s order of PHC to grant Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ‘bat’ as an election symbol, suspending its recent order.

The Election Commission reviewed the matter and decided to hold another meeting on Thursday (today) prior to taking a decision in relation to the PHC order.

ECP satisfied over IT system

Meanwhile, the Election Commission stated that all operational and IT systems were working satisfactorily and the commission did not face any obstacles and difficulties in the ongoing phases of conducting the general election 2024.

The commission said it has developed an automated and modern election management system (EMS), which would be used to transmit and compile election results from presiding officers to returning officers. All preparations in this regard were complete and the automated system had been tested several times.

Some additional functions have also been added to the EMS system to assist returning officers so that data could be stored for future use even during the initial stages of elections, the statement pointed out.

It noted that in remote areas, however, where internet connectivity issues were reported, the returning officers had some difficulties in sending the lists of nominated candidates to the Election Commission, provincial election commissioner, regional election commissioner and district election commissioner.

The ECP clarified that the main purpose of the EMS was to compile the transmission and tabulation of election results and the system would be used only on polling day. But to say that the EMS had failed while it has not yet been made operational is fabricated and insensitive.

The EMS did not pose any threat to the transmission and tabulation of election results and the Election Commission is fully satisfied with its preparations for the general election 2024 and the use of election management system in it. The fears and apprehensions in some quarters in this regard are baseless, it said.

“The ECP is totally satisfied with the use of EMS. It is also being ensured that all ROs are provided with fibre optic facilities and Wi-Fi devices may also be with them as an alternative. It is also clarified that to tabulate results, the internet is not necessary,” it said.

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In the Toshakhana case, the PTI founder contests the NAB notification.

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The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was asked to set aside the NAB notice in a plea submitted by Imran Khan’s representatives, Salman Safdar, Usman Riaz, and Khalid Yousaf, according to the information.

Regarding the Toshakhana issue, NAB Rawalpindi called the PTI founder, who is detained, and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, on April 16.

Bushra Bibi, the former first lady of Pakistan, and Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), were the subject of a new investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) yesterday.

In a letter to the deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail and call-up notices to Imran and Bushra, the anti-graft body also asked for their attendance during the research.

Case of Toshakhana
In the Toshakhana case, an Accountability Court (AC) on January 31 imposed a 14-year prison sentence on the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and his spouse, Bushra Bibi.

AC Judge Muhammad Bashir delivered the decision. For ten years, the founder of PTI and his spouse were likewise prohibited from holding any public office.

A Rs. 787 million fine was also imposed by the judge.

Prior to this, in connection with the cipher case, Khan and his foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi received 10-year prison sentences under the Official Secrets Act.

In a case concerning their marriage during the latter’s Iddat period, they were each given seven years in prison one day later.

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US Ambassador Donald Blome praises Maryam’s portrayal of the Chief Minister of Punjab.

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According to information, Maryam Nawaz was congratulated by the US envoy on being the first female Chief Minister of Punjab during their meeting.

America’s goal to deepen economic relations with Pakistan, especially in the areas of manufacturing, IT, and agriculture, was conveyed by Ambassador Bloom. Maryam’s people-oriented efforts and initiatives were commended by him, who called them “commendable”.

The ambassador received assurances from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz that Punjab will offer a safe haven for US investment. She emphasised that a stable administration is essential to guiding Pakistan out of its economic crisis and welcomed US engagement in a number of areas.

The Chief Minister also emphasised how her government’s economic initiatives had reduced inflation.

That Maryam Nawaz and Donald Bloome are meeting for the second time is worth mentioning. It was before to her election as Punjab’s Chief Minister that the first meeting was held.

At Maryam Nawaz’s home in Murree, Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Donald Blome, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, had a meeting.

They talked on the value of cooperation in a number of sectors, including as commerce, the economy, security, peace, and regional stability, according to the details.

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Sheikh Rashid claims he doesn’t communicate with the PTI’s founder or any other leader.

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Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the president of the Pakistan Awami Muslim League and former interior minister, claims not to be in contact with the founder or any other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

In an interview with media outside the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, he said that only Shibli Faraz was qualified to discuss talks between the PTI and the Establishment.

Regarding the deputy prime minister position, he stated that Pakistan’s constitution did not contain such a clause. He chided that “only the Jati Umra constitution offers the slot of deputy prime minister.”

He predicted that Pakistan would have an economic crisis within the next two months. “Industrialists are already facing tough conditions and now growers are up in arms,” he claimed.

He claimed that the purchasing of wheat had not yet started and that the general public’s financial situation was appalling.

The former federal minister reaffirmed that prisoners should be released from custody if they are innocent and unrelated to crimes.

He requested that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) be made aware of the wheat scam right now.

The following two months would be critical for Pakistani politics, thus he asked the administration to reconsider its policy.

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