Elections 2008

[mujahideen]

EC issues gazette notification of election 2008 results

The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued formal gazette notification of the results of general elections 2008. Addressing a press conference here Saturday, Federal Secretary of the Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said Election Commission had accomplished its responsibility in the best possible manner and foreign observers and diplomats termed the polls free, fair and peaceful. Secretary EC said announcement of schedule of By-elections would be announced soon after sessions of newly elected National and Provincial Assemblies. He said the gazette Notification contains results of 258 National Asssembly seats besides 291 Punjab Assembly, 122 Sindh Assembly, 89 NWFP Assembly and 48 Punjab Assembly seats. The process of women and minority seats allocation will take another two to three days, said Kanwar Dilshad. He said the foreign observers, media, civil society and all the political parties have expressed their confidence on February 18 elections and termed the same as success for the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

EC issues formal gazette notification of election 2008

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued formal gazette notification of the results of general elections 2008.

Addressing a press conference here Saturday, Federal Secretary of the Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said the Commission had accomplished its responsibility in the best possible manner and foreign observers and diplomats termed the polls free, fair and peaceful. Secretary EC said announcement of schedule of By-elections would be announced soon after sessions of newly elected National and Provincial Assemblies.

EC issues formal gazette notification of election 2008

 

[mujahideen]

EC announces official results of 808 NA, PA seats

ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan Saturday announced official results of the Elections 2008 for 808 national and provincial assemblies seats in the country.“Official results of 258 seats of National Assembly, 291 Punjab Assembly, 122 Sindh Assembly, 89 NWFP Assembly and 48 seats of Balochistan Assembly have been announced through a gazette notification,” Secretary Election Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said while addressing a news conference here.
Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said the Election Commission held a meeting today (Saturday) under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq and approved the gazette notification of election results.

He said Justice Nasim Sikandar (Punjab), Justice Ahmad Khan Lashari (Balochistan), Justice Jahanzaib Rahim (NWFP) and Justice Ghulam Dastgir Shahani (Sindh) attended the day-long meeting.

All the successful candidates have filed their returns or election expenditures before the expiry of last date of February 28 with their respective returning officers.

“Various courts have issued stay orders in 26 national and provincial assemblies constituencies due to which their official results have not been announced in the gazette notification,” he said.

Stay orders have been issued in 10 national assembly constituencies, one Punjab Assembly, 7 Sindh Assembly, 7 NWFP Assembly and one Balochistan Assembly constituency, he said.

Kanwar Dilshad said the general elections in 13 national and provincial assemblies seats were postponed either due to the death of contesting candidates or law and order situation.

He said in one constituency of the Balochistan Assembly, the successful candidate died the day after the elections and in an other constituency, the successful candidate Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi took oath as the Balochistan Governor.

The bye-elections would be held in 15 national and provincial assemblies seats in line with the schedule to be announced in the days ahead, he said.

To a question, he said “it was a matter of satisfaction for all of us that international observers, political parties, civil society organizations and media acknowledged the transparency in the general elections”.

“Local media played a vital role and greatly helped us conduct general elections in free, fair and transparent manner,” he said.

Replying to another question, he said all the applications or complaints filed with the Election Commission have been disposed off to the complete satisfaction of the contesting candidates.

Responding to a query, he said independent candidates willing to join any political party, will have to inform the Election Commission in writing about their decision within three days after issuance of the gazette notification.

He said the reserved seats for women and minorities would be allocated to the political parties as per their share according to the priority lists provided by them to the Election Commission on November 26.

To a question, he said the Election Commission works under the powers given in the Article 224 of the Constitution and “it has nothing to do with the date of the National Assembly session.”

app - EC announces official results of 808 NA, PA seats

 

[mujahideen]

Poll winners notified

QAISER ZULFIQAR

ISLAMABAD - Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the official results of 808 successful candidates for National and Provincial Assemblies of the general elections 2008.
Addressing a crowded press conference here on Saturday Secretary Election Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said that the official results of 258 MNAs, 291 MPAs (Punjab), 122 MPAs (Sindh), 89 MPAs (NWFP) and 48 MPAs (Balochistan) have been announced through a gazette notification.
According to the details, there are ten seats of National Assembly, one of Punjab, seven of Sindh and NWFP each, and one seat of Balochistan Assembly on which the courts issued stay order and stopped the official announcement of the results. Except these seats, he said, the elections were postponed in thirteen constituencies of National and Provincial Assemblies due to the death of candidate or law and order situation. Whereas two seats of Balochistan Assembly are also vacated, as one successful candidate died and MPA-elect Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi took oath as the Governor Balochistan, he added.
He said that the independent candidates will have to join any political party of their own choice till coming Tuesday. He said that in the next phase the ECP would notify the candidates on special and women seats according to the priority lists given by the political parties.
He further said that the schedule of by-elections would be announced soon after sessions of newly elected National and Provincial Assemblies. Dilsahd said that all the winning candidates submitted their returns and details of expenditure to the concerned returning officers till the last date, however, the announcement of official results on 26 seats have been stayed by the some honourable courts.
He said that the ECP has accomplished its responsibility in the best possible manner and foreign observers and diplomats termed the polls free, fair and peaceful. He thanked local as well as the international media and observers for covering the elections.
He said that the ECP has entertained all the complaints and later constituted Election Tribunals for the redressal of complaints. Responding to a question, he said that the Election Tribunals are the appropriate forums for complaints’ redressal.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Pervaiz, Chattha named leaders in NA, PA

Maqbool Malik

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) Saturday nominated Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as party’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly and Hamid Nasir Chattha as parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly.
Party’s Central Executive Committee meeting, chaired by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at PML House, unanimously decided.
The meeting also discussed the causes of the failure in February 18 elections and chalked out future strategy in this regard.
The two committees, namely, parliamentary committee and policy planning committee, were also constituted in the meeting.
The parliamentary committee would plan legislative agenda for the party’s legislators in line with national agenda, while planning committee would serve as party’s think-tank.
Later, PML-Q president Ch Shujaat Hussain told a press conference that PML-Q has emerged as the largest political party of the country as it had bagged one third of the total polled votes. He also added that PML-Q had emerged as the largest party in Balochistan also.
“We will form government in Balochistan as consultation with other political parties is underway in this respect”, he informed.
President PML-Q said the party admits that it made certain mistakes in the past and vowed that such mistakes would not be repeated in future.
He reiterated the party’s decision to sit in opposition at centre and in other three provinces and would play positive role.
Ch Shujaat also said that opposition leader would come from PML-Q.
When asked about the ongoing talks between PPP and MQM, ally of PML-Q in the previous government, Shujaat said, “for us Pakistan and its people come first”.
Answering another question about the reinstatement of the deposed judges, Shujaat Hussain deplored that some political forces were playing up with the sentiments of the masses on the issue of judiciary and other issues of national importance.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf pressuring independent MPs to join Q-League: PML-N

Sunday, March 02, 2008
By our correspondent

LAHORE: PML-N Punjab President Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa on Saturday alleged that independent parliamentarians were being pressurised by President Musharraf to support the Q-League.

Addressing a press conference at the PML-N Secretariat, Model Town, he alleged that independent MNAs, MPAs and even members of the Q-League had been called to the Presidency in Islamabad to avoid going against the pro-Musharraf PML. "Musharraf has no justification for ruling the country anymore when he and his favorites have been defeated comprehensively in the polls," he observed.

He said the president had categorically stated earlier that he would quit in case his party lost the polls. "The election results clearly show that his party has not only lost the polls but was almost wiped out from the political scene," he added.

He said pressurising the parliamentarians after calling them to the Presidency was a mockery of the office. He termed it a shameful act and a move against the democracy. "The election results were a referendum against President Musharraf and he must honourably quit. He is using pressure tactics to deprive the PML-N of power in the Punjab," he charged.

To a question about a coalition government with the PPP in the Punjab, Khosa said it would be decided by the leadership. However, he said the PML-N would support the PPP at the Centre and the same formula would be adopted in the Punjab.

When asked if his son Dost Muhammad Khosa would be the stopgap chief minister in the Punjab, he said he had not suggested his name and no decision had been taken yet.

Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Saad Rafique said the nation had rejected the pro-Musharraf forces in a silent revolution on February 18. He said despite a heavy defeat of the PML-Q in the recently-held polls, Musharraf was reluctant to leave.

Saad alleged the Presidency had become a den of anti-democratic activities and the agencies working under President Musharraf were using tactics to pressurise the newly-elected independent members to support his party.

He said public money plundered during the last five years was being used for horse-trading. He said the nation was asking President Musharraf who had given him the right to call the elected members to the Presidency and seek their support for his party. He said all conspiracies against democracy would be foiled.

Saad lauded the PPP for not becoming a part of the Musharraf camp and said elements that were out to damage the democracy would be resisted. To the formation of forward blocs in the Q-League, he said any division in the party was a natural process but his party would not accept any turncoat.

Commenting on the elections results, he said the public had given a verdict against Musharraf and his cronies but polling was rigged at some 15 to 20 seats where the PML-N candidates were winning with a low margin.

Meanwhile, Khawaja Aamer Raza said the violation of the public mandate was a great disrespect to the nation. He said the whole nation had given its verdict in favour of the democratic forces and the election results showed that it did not want Musharraf to rule the country anymore.

Musharraf pressuring independent MPs to join Q-League: PML-N

 

[mujahideen]

EC orders repolling at 62 stations

Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD - Election Commission of Pakistan Wednesday ordered repolling at 62 polling stations of two each National and Provincial Assemblies constituencies.
The Commission meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq ordered repolling at 18 polling stations of NA-202 (Shikarpur-I), two polling stations of NA-20 (Mansehra-I), 17 polling stations of PS-12 (Shikarpur-II) and 25 polling stations of PS-15 (Jacobabad-III).
All four members of the Election Commission including Justice Nasim Sikandar (Punjab), Justice Ahmad Khan Lashari (Balochistan), Justice Jahanzaib Rahim (NWFP) and Justice Ghulam Dastgir A. Shahahi (Sindh) also attended the meeting. The Election Commission on the application filed by Aftab Shaban Mirani ordered repolling in 18 polling stations of NA-202 (Shikarpur-I) and 17 polling stations of PS-12 (Shikarpur-II).
Repolling in two polling stations of NA-20 (Mansehra-I) and 25 polling stations of PS-15 (Jacobabad-III) has also been ordered on the basis of applications filed by the respective contesting candidates.
The repoll in NA-202 (Shikarpur-I) will be held on March 12 in polling stations No. 88, 157, 158, 159, 160, 164, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 179, 180, 183, 186, 187 and 189.
Two polling stations of NA-20 (Mansehra-I) where repolling will be held on March 13 include polling stations No. 244 (Sathan Gali) and polling station No. 219 (Chingari).
In PS-12 (Shikarpur-II), the repoll will be held on March 12 in polling station No. 38, 39, 40, 41, 45, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 67, 68 and 70 while 25 polling stations of PS-15 (Jacobabad-III) where repolling will be held on March 13 include polling stations No. 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 36, 65, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 81, 82, 88, 89, 92, 95 and 103.
The Election Commission dismissed the applications for repoll in NA-271 (Kharan-cum-Washak-cum-Panjgor) and PS-92 (Karachi-IV) submitted by Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir and Bashir Qureshi, respectively.
The Chief Election Commissioner has directed District Returning Officers to monitor the repoll in their respective constituencies and Chief Secretaries of Sindh and NWFP to ensure adequate security arrangements to hold repoll in free, fair and transparent manner.
It is pertinent to mention here that the February 18 general elections were held on 268 NA constituencies out of a total of 272 because elections on two seats each were postponed and terminated by the Election Commission. Results of 10 NA constituencies were withheld due to which official results of 258 NA seats were announced through an official gazette notification.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

‘Fit for trial’ complaints sought by EC

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, March 5: The Election Commission on Wednesday asked candidates who lost the elections to file complaints within 45 days of the gazette notification.

Election Commission’s Secretary Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad said that the Chief Election Commissioner would refer only ‘fit for trial’ petitions to election tribunals.

He said that petitions should contain “a precise statement of the material facts on which the petitioner relies and full particulars of any corrupt or illegal practice or other illegal acts alleged to have been committed, along with names of parties alleged to have committed such … practice and the date and place of the commission of such practice together with relief claimed by the petitioner.

“Every petition … is to be signed by the petitioner and verified on oath,” he said.

‘Fit for trial’ complaints sought by EC -DAWN - Top Stories; March 06, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

NA session to be summoned soon: Nisar

ISLAMABAD, Mar 6 (APP): Caretaker Information Minister Nisar A Memon has said that the session of National Assembly will be summoned within a week.

Talking to Radio China, he said that the caretaker government has fulfilled the promise of holding free and fair elections in the country and the phase forming new government will be completed in a peaceful atmosphere.

app - NA session to be summoned soon: Nisar

 

[mujahideen]

EC announces final results; PPPP 120, PML-N 90, PML 51

ISLAMABAD, Mar 6 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party remains atop in party position in National Assembly followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz with Pakistan Muslim League securing third position on the victory stand.“Election Commission has successfully completed the election process and today’s segment was the last one,” Secretary Election Commission, Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad told a news conference.

“By now the Commission has announced the results for 331 seats with seven in litigation, two terminated, one postponed and result on seats reserved for women was a tie,” he added.

The statistics show that winning the major chunk from the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the lower House of the Parliament, PPPP tally reaches 120 with PML-N securing 90 seats and Pakistan Muslim bagging 51.

PPPP has been the only party to secure century with PML-N just short of 10 and PML slight above the half century out of the result of 331 seats in a 342 members house.

Out of remaining 11 seats, the contest ended in a draw at one seat reserved for women in National Assembly (NWFP), on seven seats courts have issued stay order as election was terminated on two seats and postponed on one.

Among other parties MQM secured 25 seats, ANP 13, MMA six, PML-F five, PPP-S, NPP and BNP(A) one seat each. In total 18 members-elect are still independent including 12 from FATA.

Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said, the Commission has been successful to sail through this marathon national level exercise and “we appreciate all cooperation by the political parties, civil society and media to make it a success.”

“Decision on 7 seats is awaited due to litigation, election was terminated on two seats with postponed on one. On one seat reserved for women, a draw would be held as the contest ended in a tie,” he said.


Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said official results for NA general seats was issued through a gazette notification on March 1 after complete scrutiny by the respective returning officers.

He said successful independent candidates were given three days after the issuance of the gazette notification to inform the Election Commission if they were going to join any political party.

“After inclusion of independent candidates in different political parties, per centum share was decided for each political party according to their respective number of seats in the Lower House of the Parliament,” he said.

Kanwar Dilshad said seats reserved for women and minorities were allocated to candidates of the political parties in line with the priority lists provided by them on November 26.

He said, “After announcement of official results for seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies, all the phases of the electoral process have been completed.”

The Secretary said a contest for one NA seat reserved for women ended in a tie between Pakistan Muslim League and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in NWFP where a draw would be held in presence of representatives of both political parties.

He said a contest has also been ended in a tie between PML and PML-F on a provincial seat reserved for minority in Sindh.

Replying to a question, he said those who were elected on more than one general seat in national or provincial assemblies would have to take oath for any one seat within one month.

He said after oath-taking of all the successful candidates in the national and provincial assemblies, the Election Commission would announce schedule for the bye-elections for national and provincial assemblies seats.

app - EC announces final results; PPPP 120, PML-N 90, PML 51

 

[mujahideen]

PPPP, PML win majority in National Assembly polls

ISLAMABAD, Mar 6 (APP): With the election process culminating after announcement on reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in National Assembly, PPPP remains atop followed by PML-N and PML.

Election Commission has completed results for 331 seats so far with litigation on seven seats, election terminated on two seats and postponed on one. On one National Assembly seat reserved for women from NWFP the contest ended in tie and draw would be held later on.

Following is the party position in National Assembly

Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) 120

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) 90

Pakistan Muslim League (PML) 51

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) 25

Awami National Party (ANP) 13

Muttahida Majlas-e-Aml (MMA) 6

Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) 5

Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) 1

National Peoples Party (NPP) 1

Balochistan National Party-Awami (BNP-A) 1

Independent 18

In this way the Election Commission has so far finalized the result on 331 seats out of 342. Contest ended in a tie on one seat reserved for women with litigation on seven seats. Election had been terminated on two seats and postponed on one.

app - PPPP, PML win majority in National Assembly polls

 

[mujahideen]

NA, PA sessions to be summoned in two weeks: Musharraf

JACOBABAD: President Pervez Musharraf Friday said the National and Provincial Assemblies sessions will be summoned in two weeks. Addressing an inaugural ceremony of the project of potable water supply to Jacobabad city here, the president said he is ready to work with the new government. “The people have rejected the extremists and supported the moderate forces,” he pointed out. He urged the newly elected candidates to take over the reins of the government with particular focus on administrative affairs of the government because a number of projects worth billions of rupees are presently in different stages of completion and need to be completed through proper administration. President Pervez Musharraf reiterated his commitment to carry on war against the scourge of extremism and terrorism and that he would not back out at any cost. He clarified that there is no distance between him and the Pak Army. “This blame game is being played by the same elements who alleged that a strategy is being planned in Governor House Punjab to rig the February 18 elections,” he added. “But the people by their full participation in the polls ensured holding of free, fair and transparent elections which has happened for the first the first time in the history of the country,” President Musharraf claimed. Earlier, Caretaker Prime Minister, Muhammadmian Soomro in his address said projects of drinking water and basic health care are underway not only in Jacobabad but across the country with the efforts of President Pervez Musharraf. He pointed out that the water supply project in Jacobabad had been completed at a cost of Rs1.32, solving the 60 year old problem of the people of this city.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

NA session to be called without delay: Spokesman

ISLAMABAD: Spokesman of President Pervez Musharraf, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Arshad Qureshi Saturday said no delay on part of the president will be made after receiving an advice from Prime Minister’s Secretariat for convening National Assembly session. “I have never said that Presiden Pervez Musharraf is not presently considering to summon NA session,” he clarified in a statement issued here from Aiwan-e-Saddar. He said the role of Aiwan-e-Saddar will come into play after receiving a summary from Prime Minister’s secretariat in connection with convening NA session. “The President will summon the NA session immediately after receiving the summary,” the spokesman said.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Summary sent to PM for summoning NA session

ISLAMABAD: The Federal ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs has sent a summary to the Caretaker Prime Minister regarding summoning the National Assembly session. Caretaker Federal minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Syed Afzal Haider said Saturday that a summary regarding summoning the National Assembly session has been sent to the Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soormo. The summary want sent to the Prime Minister after the Election Commission of Pakistan had issued the notification of the newly elected MPs, he said. It is said that the Prime Minister would forward the summary to President Pervez Musharraf on Monday. After this redevelopment, the National Assembly session could be summoned next week, the sources said.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

PML-N, PPP show 2/3rds PA majority

* 12 ministries to be granted to PPP in Punjab

By Mansab Dogar and Shahnawaz Khan

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) demonstrated their 2/3rds majority in the Punjab Assembly at a dinner hosted by PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday.

According to data issued by PML-N Punjab Information Secretary Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, 274 MPAs-elect attended the dinner. Of these, 165 belong to the PML-N; 103 to the PPP; four to the PML-Functional (PML-F); and two to the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal. The Punjab Assembly has a total strength of 371, with a 2/3rds strength coming to 245. Therefore, there were 29 members in excess of the required majority at the dinner. Two members of the PPP were unable to attend the dinner.

Addressing the gathered MPAs-elect, Shahbaz Sharif said it was a historic day, as past rivals had been brought together for the greater good of the nation.

Vowing to seek a solution to the people’s problems, he said that without the restoration of the pre-November 3 judiciary, the people would not be able to receive any relief in the police stations or the courts.

PPP Punjab President Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the gathering that his party was cooperating with the PML-N to form the government out of respect for the people’s mandate. He said the PPP had declined to form a coalition government with the PML-Quaid in the Punjab.

PML-F President Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood Gilani said this was the first time since he entered politics in 1985 that he had seen such a scene of unity.

12 ministries: Separately, sources in the PPP told Daily Times that the party expected to receive 12 ministries in Punjab, including three important portfolios, while the PML-N has agreed to receive portfolios in the Centre on the party’s insistence. They said the PPP would retain the post of Speaker in the Centre, adding that the PML-N would retain it in Punjab.

On the incoming government, PPP Punjab President Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Daily Times that Zardari had already met elected representatives of Balochistan, NWFP and Sindh. He said the party co-chairman would meet Punjab’s elected politicians on Monday and Tuesday. Qureshi also announced that five independent Punjab candidates had joined the PPP.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan