Tag: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

  • Pakistan: Lahore Administration Allows Imran Khan’s Party To Hold Power Show With 43 Conditions | world news

    The district administration of Lahore on Friday allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold its power show in Lahore’s Kahna, today in line with the directives given by the high court, Geo News reported.

    The deputy commissioner, in its no objection certificate (NOC), has set 43 conditions for PTI public gathering, including fixing a time limit for the rally from 3 pm to 6 pm.

    The conditions mentioned by the deputy commissioner included that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur “should tender apology publicly for his vitriol during Islamabad Jalsa on September 8, whereas, all those under trial for hate speech in the previous public gathering shall not be allowed to participate/appear on stage.”

    It added that no “anti-state/anti institution” slogans and statements should be made during the rally and asked Imran Khan-founded party that “no Afghan flag to be hoisted and no Afghan paid manpower to be brought to Jalsa,” as reported. by Geo News.

    Another condition mentioned by deputy commissioner reads, “No proclaimed offender will participate/appear in Jalsa. If so facilitating their arrest will be responsibility of Administration of Jalsa, failing which Admin will be tried for abetment.”

    In a video statement, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called on the administration not to cause hurdles in the way of the rally.

    He said the participants would be able to reach the rally venue on time if hurdles were created for them and hence the gathering will be concluded timely.

    Gohar Ali Khan said, “PTI workers should participate in the rally peacefully,” while urging workers to reach the venue on time so that the entire process could be concluded on time, Geo News reported.

    Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail, has termed the holding of the rally a “do or die” situation. He has expressed optimism about the success of PTI’s power show in Lahore.

    Meanwhile, the party has prepared a container for Ali Amin Gandapur. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM will use the container for traveling to the rally venue in Lahore from Swabi, Geo News reported, citing sources closer to the party.

    The sources further said Gandapur will also address PTI workers in the central convoy in Swabi before departing to Lahore.

    Citing the installation of containers and heavy police deployments on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Punjab border, a KP CM’s spokesperson said that heavy machinery, including 50 cranes, shovels and other equipment, has been sent to the Peshawar Motorway, which would be used to remove barriers. placed on the way towards Lahore rally’s venue.

    The district administration’s decision came after the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed the PTI to submit a request to the city’s deputy commissioner (DC) for holding the rally in Lahore while ordering the latter to take a decision on it by 5 pm ( local time).

    Justice Muhammad Tariq Nadeem and Justice Farooq Haider heard the plea filed by PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sheikh Imtiaz Mehmood.

    Meanwhile, the government has planned to arrest “3,700 suspects who are wanted and proclaimed offenders” in May 9 riot cases when they attend the Lahore rally, Geo News reported, citing Punjab government sources.

    “Lahore police compiled data of the wanted persons via Safe City cameras and formed special teams who would be identified and arrested through the use of artificial intelligence and other modern technology,” the report stated.

    The PTI has been trying to hold rallies in Pakistan for months. However, authorities have repeatedly not allowed PTI to hold rallies, citing security issues and other reasons. PTI, however, managed to hold a public gathering in Islamabad on September 8.

    Following PTI’s power show, a crackdown was launched against party leaders — some of who were even allegedly “picked” from within the parliament’s premises for allegedly breaching the no objection certificate (NOC) issued by the administration as well as the “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024.” The law had taken effect just a day before the Imran Khan-founded party’s rally, Geo News reported.

  • Imran Khan’s PTI To Hold Protests Over ‘Rigging’, Delay In Pakistan’s Election Result. world news

    New Delhi: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will stage ‘peaceful protests’ across the country on Sunday to demand the timely announcement of the election results and to safeguard the vote, as independent candidates are ahead with 100. seats. The decision was taken after the party’s core committee met and discussed the election results and the next steps. The core committee also talked about the possible alliances with other political parties.

    The party said that important decisions were made during the meeting, which would be finalized after consulting with PTI founder Imran Khan. The PTI said that the people had expressed their choice in a peaceful and constitutional way, and now it was time to defend their mandate.

    ARY News reported that the results of 257 out of the 265 National Assembly seats where elections were held had been declared, which showed that the independent candidates had the most seats with 100. The PML-N and PPP had 73 and 54 seats, respectively.

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement had 17 seats, while the PML-Q had three. The JUI-F and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) had three and two seats, respectively. MWM and BNP had one seat each. (ANI) In addition, independent candidates backed by PTI have filed petitions in the high courts, alleging that the polls were rigged.

    Independent candidates affiliated with PTI also challenged the results of PP-164 and NA-118 in the Lahore High Court (LHC), where PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz won.

    Dr Yasmeen Rashid also contested the victory of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in NA-130 in Lahore in the LHC.

    Another independent candidate, Shehzad Farooq, disputed the win of Maryam Nawaz in NA-119 in Lahore, while PTI-supported independent candidate Zaheer Abbas Khokhar challenged the win of PML-N candidate Ata Tarar in NA-127.

    Rehana Dar, the mother of Usman Dar, asked the high court to recount the votes in NA-71 in Sialkot, where PML-N veteran Khawaja Asif won.

  • Pakistan General Elections 2024: A Crucible Of Change Amidst Power Struggles And Emerging Alliances | world news

    New Delhi: As Pakistan approaches its 2024 general elections, the political landscape reveals a complex tapestry of power struggles, unexpected alliances, and grassroots movements that promise to make these elections one of the most interesting in the nation’s history. In the heated political arena of Pakistan’s 2024 general elections, set to take place on feb 8th, 2024 to elect the members of the 16th National Assembly, a diverse array of political parties and candidates are in the fray, making it one of the most contested. elections in recent history.

    With over twelve political parties registered, the electoral battlefield showcases a wide spectrum of ideologies and regional interests. The number of candidates vying for seats is staggering, with thousands of individuals, including a significant number of independents, contesting across the nation.

    Among these are the prominent parties: the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by Nawaz Sharif; the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), spearheaded by Bilawal Bhutto; and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), under the leadership of Imran Khan, with a notable presence of their candidates even amidst challenging circumstances.

    Shehbaz Sharif, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former chief minister of Pakistan, finds himself in a precarious position. Experts opine that despite having been brought into power with the establishment/army’s backing, his influence across Pakistan seems to be waning. His campaign, focused on the government’s achievements before 2018, conveniently sidesteps discussions of the subsequent period marked by high inflation under his brother’s governance.

    Sharif’s strategic decision to contest from Kasur, abandoning his traditional stronghold in Lahore, is a testament to the shifting political sands. Interestingly, despite the apparent pressure from the military establishment in the past, Sharif refrains from criticizing army officers, a move that has not sat well with the public.

    On the other side of the political spectrum, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto, is gaining momentum. For the first time in three decades, a Bhutto is contesting from Lahore – a symbolic move since the PPP was founded in the house of stalwart leader Mubashar Hassan from this very city. Bilawal’s campaign is a clarion call to the workers of PTI and the general populace, positioning the electoral battle as one between the ‘Lion’ (PML-N’s symbol) and the ‘Arrow’ (PPP’s symbol). He vows to fight against the oppression and challenges Sharif’s leadership.

    The establishment’s apparent target, however, is the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan. In an unprecedented move, many of PTI’s top leaders, including Khan, find themselves behind bars, and the party’s election symbol, the cricket bat, has been controversially retracted. Despite these setbacks, more than 2000 PTI candidates are contesting as independents or from PTI symbol across 800 seats. The party’s campaign, stifled in physical spaces, has found a vibrant life on social media, with virtual rallies and songs in support of Khan resonating with the younger demographic.

    In an inspiring turn of events, the wives and mothers of incarcerated PTI leaders have stepped up to contest the elections. This surge in female candidacy, symbolized by Usman Dar’s mother’s Rehana Dar passionate campaign, underscores a pivotal moment for women in Pakistan’s political arena. She is contesting against Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s former defense minister. The slogan she gave to the public “Maa Tujeh Salam” (Mother, I salute you) is emotionally resonating with the public and creating a stronger connection with her. Usman Dar, regarded as one of Khan’s trusted aides.

    Qaisra Parvez, the spouse of Pervez Elahi, a senior leader in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Chief Minister of Punjab, is contesting the elections from the N-64 Gujrat constituency. Additionally, Ruba Umar, wife of Umar Dar, is a candidate in the PP-46 constituency. This election marks a historic first in Pakistan, as the women from the Chaudhry family are stepping directly into the political arena. They are not only aiming to uphold their family’s honor but are also taking a firm stance against the establishment.

    As the elections draw near, experts analyze voter turnout as a crucial factor. The high voter turnout in the recent by-elections in Punjab, where PTI secured 17 out of 18 seats, indicates a possible tilt in favor of PTI. However, there are concerns that efforts might be made to suppress voter turnout, which could lead to a more evenly distributed outcome among parties and benefit the establishment. Experts opine that this scenario could pave the way for a coalition government, potentially uniting Bilawal Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in governance.

    The 2024 general elections in Pakistan are more than a political contest; They represent a pivotal test of the establishment’s influence and a significant challenge for Nawaz Sharif’s party. With the political landscape evolving rapidly, these elections promise to be a landmark event in Pakistan’s democratic journey.