mr42O
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ISLAMABAD: With the file work in progress, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership will soon be getting a gift of 20 bullet-proof vehicles from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to run its campaign for the upcoming elections.
Sources in the Interior Ministry told The Spokesman Monday that the Ministry has cautiously granted No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the PML-N for the import of 20 bullet-proof vehicles gifted by the Saudi Kingdom to the party leadership. Five vehicles would be used by the Sharif family and 15 others would be in the use of the party leadership as it is finalizing country-wide election campaign.
The sources said that initially the Interior Ministry took the case of 20-vehicles as a contribution/donation by a foreign government to the political party; PML-N, which is prohibited under the election laws. But as the party insisted to treat the matter as a gift by the Saudi authorities, the Ministry granted the NOC in this regard but left it to the Election Commission of Pakistan to decide whether it could be considered as a gift, the sources added.
The Pakistan Election Laws and The Political Parties Order, 2002 state in this context: The contribution made by members or supporters of any party shall be duly recorded by the political parties. Any contribution made, directly or indirectly, by any foreign government, multi-national or domestically incorporated public or private company, firm, trade or professional association shall be prohibited and the parties may accept contributions and donations only from individuals. Any contribution or donation which is prohibited under this Order shall be confiscated in favour of the State in the manner as may be prescribed.
It is further explained in the relevant laws that a contribution or donation includes a contribution or donation made in cash, kind, stocks, hospitality, accommodation, transport, fuel and provision of other such facilities.
As the election campaign is about to start formally, security has been a major concern for both the security departments and the political leadership of the country. The PPP is one of three parties recently named by a spokesman of the Pakistani Taliban as legitimate targets for militant attacks during the elections, due next month. The other two parties on the hit list are the MQM and the ANP which has its main base in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The authorities are also concerned about the security of the leadership of PML-N and PTI as the elections are around the corner.
The Spokesman Pakistan - Saudi
Sources in the Interior Ministry told The Spokesman Monday that the Ministry has cautiously granted No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the PML-N for the import of 20 bullet-proof vehicles gifted by the Saudi Kingdom to the party leadership. Five vehicles would be used by the Sharif family and 15 others would be in the use of the party leadership as it is finalizing country-wide election campaign.
The sources said that initially the Interior Ministry took the case of 20-vehicles as a contribution/donation by a foreign government to the political party; PML-N, which is prohibited under the election laws. But as the party insisted to treat the matter as a gift by the Saudi authorities, the Ministry granted the NOC in this regard but left it to the Election Commission of Pakistan to decide whether it could be considered as a gift, the sources added.
The Pakistan Election Laws and The Political Parties Order, 2002 state in this context: The contribution made by members or supporters of any party shall be duly recorded by the political parties. Any contribution made, directly or indirectly, by any foreign government, multi-national or domestically incorporated public or private company, firm, trade or professional association shall be prohibited and the parties may accept contributions and donations only from individuals. Any contribution or donation which is prohibited under this Order shall be confiscated in favour of the State in the manner as may be prescribed.
It is further explained in the relevant laws that a contribution or donation includes a contribution or donation made in cash, kind, stocks, hospitality, accommodation, transport, fuel and provision of other such facilities.
As the election campaign is about to start formally, security has been a major concern for both the security departments and the political leadership of the country. The PPP is one of three parties recently named by a spokesman of the Pakistani Taliban as legitimate targets for militant attacks during the elections, due next month. The other two parties on the hit list are the MQM and the ANP which has its main base in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The authorities are also concerned about the security of the leadership of PML-N and PTI as the elections are around the corner.
The Spokesman Pakistan - Saudi