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Politicians who won polls during imprisonment

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  • Sheikh Rohail Asghar and Sheikh Shakeel won in 1985.
  • Makhdoom Javaid Hashmi clinched victory in 2002.
  • Hashmi was jailed during Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s era.

LAHORE: Three politicians in Lahore are known to have set a unique record of winning general elections in the country’s history without even running a poll campaign, as they remained behind bars during the contest, The News reported on Thursday.

Veteran politicians including Makhdoom Javaid Hashmi, Sheikh Rohail Asghar and his brother Sheikh Shakeel are some of the candidates who contested polls and even won them while being imprisoned in the elections that took place in 1985 and 2002.

All the politicos, at the time of their wins, belonged to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), except Hashmi, who later joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The politicians took oaths after their production orders were issued.

The first such precedent was witnessed in the year 1985 when PML-N leader Asghar got elected as a member of the National Assembly, while his brother Sheikh Shakeel became a provincial lawmaker. Both the brothers were under arrest at that time and their campaign was run by their supporters.

In that contest from the then NA-83, Lahore, Asghar won the seat securing 46,646 votes against Mian Abdul Kabir who could only fetch 19,056 votes. The PML-N stalwart won that contest with a big margin, and the highest by anyone without participating in the campaign.

His brother Shakeel won from the then-PP-98 while getting 27,831 votes and Mian Imtiaz Khaliq stood at number two with 6,064 votes.

Besides, 17 years later, in the year 2002, the then-acting president of PML-N Hashmi won from NA-123, a seat in Lahore while he was jailed during the former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s era.

He secured around 29,000 votes and PPP’s Tariq Waheed Butt was a runner-up with around 18,000 votes.

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The PPP requests the image of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on currency notes.

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The resolution was passed during a seminar named ‘Bhutto Reference and History’, which focused on Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

The resolution praised the Supreme Court’s admission that the PPP founder’s trial, which resulted in his execution, was unfair and urged that the federal government confer on him the title of “Quaid-e-Awam” (Leader of the People) and the highest civilian honor, Nishan-e-Pakistan.

Aside from demanding that Bhutto’s image be used on currency notes, the resolution also asked for the construction of a fitting monument in his honor and the designation of his mausoleum as a national shrine.

Furthermore, it demands for the reversal of Bhutto’s unjust death sentence and the creation of a “Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Award” for democracy activists who have given their lives for the cause.

In March, the National Assembly passed a resolution characterizing Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s trial as judicial murder.

The Supreme Court released its reserved opinion on the presidential reference against the ‘controversial’ death sentence imposed on PPP founder, stating that the former prime minister was denied a “fair trial”.

A nine-judge court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa revealed its decision on the long-pending presidential reference to determine if it can reconsider its verdict, which the PPP and jurists perceive as a historic error.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death under former military dictator General (retired) Ziaul Haq’s administration.

The first elected prime minister of the country was charged with the murder of a political competitor, Nawab Mohammed Ahmed Qasuri, and a trial was held.

Bhutto was executed on April 4, 1979, despite requests and appeals for leniency and pity from various heads of state.

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The ‘clinics on wheels’ initiative is introduced by CM Maryam.

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Punjab is heading toward progress and prosperity, according to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Speaking at the ‘clinics on wheels’ project celebration, the chief minister emphasized how this project will improve public health and change the health system.

She emphasized that all of the essential medical facilities were included in the Clinics on Wheels scheme. There would be multiple locations for the 200 mobile clinics. Gynecology services, screenings, immunizations, and medical testing will all be offered at the clinics.

There will be ultrasound equipment available at 50 of the 200 mobile clinic locations. Up to 4 million people will be helped by this endeavor, especially in places without hospital services.

First choice for local physicians to volunteer for this project will be granted to those from 36 districts. Consideration is also being given to the lack of paramedical and nursing personnel.

The project, which was started by Nawaz Sharif and put on hold by the previous administration, is being restarted, according to the chief minister. According to her, her government’s goal is to deliver healthcare right to people’s doors.

Additionally, she revealed that eight districts in Punjab would have the construction of modern cardiology hospitals.

With Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Imran Nazir, and Health Secretary Ali Khan in attendance, CM Maryam officially launched the clinics on wheels project.

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Governor-rule attempt that is intolerable: Gandapur

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Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of KP denounced the incident on May 9 and promised that those in charge will face national scrutiny.

While eight FIRs have been filed against him in eight different districts, Gandapur stressed that none of the accusations have been validated.

Proving he was going nowhere without a fight, Gandapur issued a warning against tampering with democracy.

Any attempt to obstruct progress will be greeted with strong resistance, he warned, so avoid using disruptive tactics.

Gandapur declared, “We will seize the governor’s mansion and I will not keep quiet about the chief minister’s seat if governor law is imposed.”

With the media there to ensure transparency, the Chief Minister boldly challenged his predecessor, Pervez Khattak, to participate in a public discussion in the Kaaba.

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