Elections 2008

[mujahideen]

Imran Khan urged to take part in by-elections

By Qamar Jabbar

LAHORE: The Punjab and Lahore leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has urged the party chief, Imran Khan, to change its policies and field the party candidates in the by-elections, learnt Daily Times. “The party should field its candidates for the national, provincial and senate seats after negotiating with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders,” quoted PTI leaders. They were of the view that the PTI would lose its credibility among the masses if it continued to align with the Jamaat-e-Islami or the lawyers. The workers will also leave the party, they said. Daily Times also learnt that PTI Lahore President Shabir Sial had tendered his resignation to the party chief a few days ago for being unable to keep the party intact in Lahore and bring the workers out to protest rallies. However, Khan assured him that he would talk to the PPP and PML-N leaders to accommodate the party candidates on four national and five provincial assembly seats in Punjab. Sial then withdrew his resignation. Sources said that Khan had an offer for the Senate seat, but he was reluctant to accept it. Admiral (r) Javaid Iqbal, who had served as the Punjab PTI president, central vice president, additional secretary general and central information secretary is not ready to accept any responsibility. However, the party chief has asked him to become active and look after the media cell.

Courtesy Daily Times

 

[BATMAN]

^^ Irony, he is perhaps the biggest political victim of elections 2008 or perhaps well paid to stay away in first round.
His party was expected to share Sharif's vote bank in Punjab.

Now, what about Qazi does he also regrets or face rebillion?

 

[mujahideen]

Aitzaz to contest for NA-55 seat

ISLAMABAD, March 28: Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan announced on Friday that he would contest the by-election for the NA-55 seat, Rawalpindi, on a PPP ticket.

However, Mr Ahsan also said he would be ready to contest from any constituency of the party’s choice. The NA-55 seat has been vacated by PML-N leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi who defeated PML-Q leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

—APP

 

[Myth_buster_1]

Aitzaz to contest for NA-55 seat

ISLAMABAD, March 28: Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan announced on Friday that he would contest the by-election for the NA-55 seat, Rawalpindi, on a PPP ticket.

However, Mr Ahsan also said he would be ready to contest from any constituency of the party’s choice. The NA-55 seat has been vacated by PML-N leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi who defeated PML-Q leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

—APP

JUDGES ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE FREAKIN POLITICANS!!!!!!!
Atezaz is nothing but a wolf behind a black coat!!! hope he tangles in the web that he is setting for Musharraf!!

 

[mujahideen]

PML-Q to contest by-polls: Elahi

* Opp Leader in NA says PML-Q’s vote bank larger than PML-N’s

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Punjab will contest by-elections on all 17 provincial assembly and 6 National Assembly (NA) seats in the province, Opposition Leader in the NA Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Tuesday. The Election Commission will hold by-polls on June 3. He told a press conference after a meeting of the provincial parliamentary board of the party that the PML-Q had a larger vote bank than the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Warns: “If the ruling alliance tries to rig the by-elections, the PML-Q will strongly protest in the national and provincial assemblies,” he said. He said the PML-N leadership’s attitude threatened the stability of democratic institutions in the country as it had started “politics of confrontation and victimisation”. Slams: He criticised the government’s plan to reduce the price of flour, saying no concrete step was taken despite the passage of several days of the new government’s 100-day relief programme. He accused the ruling coalition of doing nothing for the welfare of the people, adding that the government was engaged in the “politics of revenge” to divert the people’s attention from real issues Elahi said the PML-Q would not allow the rollback of any public welfare programme initiated by it, including Rescue 1122, the traffic warden system and various programmes in the education, health and other sectors. He asked traffic wardens to remain committed to their work, adding that no government could remove them because they were appointed on merit. The former Punjab chief minister said neither he nor his family had left Pakistan during any political crisis, unlike PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, who “had left the country during the Tehreek-e-Nijat”. Elahi said he had been receiving threats from Al Qaeda and other terrorists networks over the last five years, adding that the government was responsible for the security of his family. He condemned the government for adding the name of former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim to the Exit Control List (ECL), calling it “the worst form of victimisation”. Later, he told a convention of the PML-Q Women’s Wing that the party had decided to hold conventions of all of its wings in April, and asked women workers to campaign for PML-Q candidates in the by-polls. He said the PML-Q would oppose all ‘anti-people steps’ by the government.

Courtesy Daily Times

 

[fatman17]

Pak polls were 'inherently flawed': EU poll monitors

17 Apr 2008

ISLAMABAD: The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) has claimed that the February 18 parliamentary elections in Pakistan were inherently flawed due to persisting problems with the framework and the conditions in which they were held.

"If these (enduring problems with the framework and conditions) are not addressed, there is a serious risk of electoral problems in the future," said the EUOEM Chief Observer Michael Gahler, at the release of the 'final report'.

He further said that the elections fell short of "accepted" international norms, as several key aspects of free and fair elections, including freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and universal suffrage, were repeatedly breached.

Gahler also said that the Ahmaddiya community were not given equal treatment as guaranteed by the Pakistani Constitution.

"I call on the Pakistani authorities, political parties, and civil society to swiftly undertake electoral reforms," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

The mission put forth 83 recommendations to improve the electoral process in Pakistan, and promised to assist the country in overhauling the election machinery to strengthen democracy in Pakistan.

The report suggested a complete overhaul of the Election Commission (EC), saying that appointments of the chief election commissioner and members of the EC should be subject to stakeholders' consultation.

Responding to the EU report, EC Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said that the elections were upheld in a transparent manner and were free from any coercion.

Dilshad said that he was still analysing the report.

 

[faisal4pro]

please unstick the thread as the elections are over and soon the govt will be over as we can see the excellent approach of mr. zardari to destroy Pakistan

 

[BATMAN]

Benazir’s protocol officer interviewed by UN team

Benazir’s protocol officer interviewed by UN team

ISLAMABAD: The UN commission probing into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has held a meeting with Advocate Chaudhry Aslam, the protocol officer of Benazir Bhutto, and obtained important information from him regarding the Rawalpindi tragedy.

Talking to Online, Chaudhry Aslam said he had told the commission that a meeting was held in Dubai about security of Benazir Bhutto after her return to the country.

“The security matters were assigned to a special team instead of provincial presidents of the party in the meeting,” he added.

He said the special team was consisted of Iqbal Mirza, Siraj Durrani, Rehman Malik, Khalid Shahinshah, Bilal Sheikh and others. “When Benazir Bhutto was about to leave the public meeting to go outside Liaquat Bagh on December, 27, 2007, the then chief security officer of the former premier, Rehman Malik, and Dr Babar Awan left the site for the public meeting ahead of Benazir Bhutto and moved out after she had seated in her vehicle, separating the security convoy from her vehicle,” he added.

He said the commission was also told that when Benazir Bhutto reached Liaquat Bagh, the ground was surrounded by police but no policeman was seen there when she left it.