PML-Q moves EC against alleged rigging in Gujrat by-elections

PML-Q moves EC against alleged rigging in Gujrat by-elections

* Mushahid Hussain says EC should play its role to ensure fair, transparent electoral process

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leadership on Wednesday met Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza and filed an application against the alleged irregularities in the recent by-elections held in Gujrat.

PML_Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain led the delegation, which included Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, Opposition Leader in Senate Wasim Sajjad and Mian Imran Masoud, the PML-Q’s ticket holder for PP-111, Gujrat.

Speaking on the occasion, Mushahid said the country’s new vibrant democracy “stands on three pillars - parliament, Supreme Court and the Election Commission (EC).

Play role: “The EC is a key component of the democracy troika and it has to play its role judiciously to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process just as the apex court has dispensed justice on Tuesday,” he said.

The PML-Q secretary general said his party expected the ECP to do justice in Gujrat, where the federal and provincial governments had allegedly conducted rigging.

Mushahid said his party reposed full confidence in the chief election commissioner and his team, saying that the irregularities in the Gujrat by-polls were a “test case for the independence and credibility of the EC”.

Later, while talking to journalists, Mushahid criticised the government’s interference
in the postponement of the United Nations Commission Report on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Shujaat welcomes consensus on 18th Amendment

Shujaat welcomes consensus on 18th Amendment

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Thursday welcomed the consensus reached among all political groups about 18th Amendment. About the renaming of NWFP as Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, he said: “We have written a dissenting note about the new name, while efforts will be made during debate that old name remains unchanged.” Speaking to reporters at his Lahore residence, the PML-Q leader said the constitutional reforms committee comprising all political parties had to work hard in order to evolve a consensus about the reforms. “This is the first time that all parties are united on any issue,” he added. To a question, Hussain said he was glad if Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had requested the PML-N to rejoin the federal cabinet. Responding to a query about Shoaib-Sania wedding reports, he said that people-to-people contacts must continue and it was also the result of same people-to-people contacts.

Constitutional reforms, NWFP renaming separate issues: Shujaat Hussain

ISLAMABAD - PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday said that the constitutional reforms were an initiative being taken in the national interest and it should not be clubbed with the renaming of the NWFP.
He expressed these views while addressing a press briefing after the party’s special meeting held here on Monday to discuss the renaming row of NWFP. He said that the party had formed a special committee to finalise its recommendations for short-listing a consensus name for the province, saying that the party’s NWFP President Amir Muqam would head the committee.
He said that initially there was a demand to repeal the controversial clauses of the 17th Amendment from the Constitution, which was later deferred and many other issues were clubbed together with the issue of 17th Amendment. He argued that the renaming was a serious issue and needed consensus view from all political parties.
PML -Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that the special committee would finalise its recommendations within next few days and it would not take too long to reach a conclusion.
He made it clear that his party would not accept any such name like Pakhtoonistan, Afghania or Pakhtoonkhwa as new name for the NWFP. He said that it was a sensitive issue, which was not even raised in 1973 on the eve of formation of the country’s Constitution. However, he added, since this issue is raised, there is a need to seek proposals from all sections of the society.
He said that his party had majority MPAs in NWFP Assembly, which were even more than PML-N so it represented the voice of people of NWFP.
Amir Muqam said his party had to consider the views and aspirations of the people of Hazara, Chiteral, Malakand, and other parts of the province and the renaming issue was not limited to ANP and PML-N only. He said that due to the sensitivity of the issue, his party would take all people on board and a consensus view would be adopted by the special committee.

PML Q Leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain alongwith ANO Leader talking with journalists

Renaming of NWFP: PML-Q asks ANP not to be stuck on single name ISLAMABAD: As Awami National Party paces up its contact campaign with the political parties with the exception of PML-N for gathering support of renaming NWFP, PML-Q and ANP have agreed to show flexibility on the issue. To this effect, a three member ANP delegation on Monday met with PML-Q president CH Shujaat Hussain. Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Saeed and PML-Q president NWFP Amir Mukam was also present on the occasion. PML-Q sources told that ANP has assured to show flexibility on the renaming of the NWFP while PML-Q has also expressed its willingness that if the province is named Pakhtoonkhwa Khyber or Pakhtoonkhwa Abaseen than the party is willing to support it. But people of Hazara, Chitral and Kohistan should also be taken into confidence and the name of Pakhtoonkhwa should not be insisted on. In this regard when PML NWFP President Amir Mukam was contacted he told Online that we have assured ANP that if they show flexibility on the name than PML-Q would also do. We do not want that three provinces are created over the renaming of the province issue. All stakeholders would have to find a middle way out and stubbornness should not be shown over a single name. He said that ANP has assured us that they would also show flexibility. Amir Mukam said that we are also in consultations with our party leaders and workers in NWFP. Talking to media after the meeting PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Saeed said that the renaming of the province is not an issue of one party or individual but is a matter of the entire country and it would be settled through consultations. He said soon Asfandyar Wali and Ch Shujaat Hussain would meet and we are consulting party leaders of NWFP on this matter.

Renaming of the province is not an issue of one party or individual

Terrorists deserve exemplary punishment: Engineer Ameer Muqam

‘Terrorists deserve exemplary punishment’

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid NWFP President Ameer Muqam on Sunday said those fighting army were criminals and deserved exemplary punishment.

Muqam said sacrifices rendered by the army and the nation in fight against terrorism and militancy had saved the country.

Addressing a public meeting in Madyan area of Swat district, he said terrorism, inflation, unemployment and load shedding were the province’s real issues instead the one related to its renaming.

He urged government to focus its attention on resolving public problems.

Muqam said no rehabilitation and reconstruction work had yet been started in Swat and other terrorism-affected areas. He said it was necessary to compensate the displaced people for their damages. This, he said, will ensure lasting peace in the area.

PML-Q NWFP General Secretary Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani said the sacrifices given by Swat people would not go to waste. He said the PML-Q was a strong political force in the province having representation in all 24 districts. He asked party workers to prepare for the upcoming local government elections

Problems cant solve with changing name: Engineer Muqaam

Mysterious foreign phone calls behind Sharif brothers' political moves: Pervaiz Elahi

Mysterious foreign phone calls behind Sharif brothers' political moves: Elahi
Senior PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has claimed that Nawaz and Sahbaz Sharif have been playing politics through telephone, as most of their big political moves have been triggered by "mysterious foreign phone calls." The Daily Times quoted Elahi as saying that the telephone has remained a key item in Sharif brothers' policies as they change their decisions after receiving phone calls. He further claimed that the Sharifs belonged to the "telephone tribe," and had started the Long March following some late night phone calls. The former chief minister attributed phone calls for Sharif's election as the prime minister. Elahi challenged the Sharif brothers to make some magical phone call to solve problems of poverty, unemployment and price-rise in Pakistan. (ANI)

N League is Phone League

N League is Phone Leage

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi challenged PML-N

PML Leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain talking with Waseem Sajjat and Khalid Ranjha

Opp leader lambastes ‘rigging’ in PP-111

Opposition leader Punjab Chaudhry Zaheeruddin has termed polls held in PP-111 a case of “electoral terrorism”.

According to a press statement issued on Saturday, the Opposition leader said “misconduct” in polls could not be called rigging but electoral terrorism. He alleged that hooligans who allegedly tortured women and turned polling stations into ashes were brought in police vehicles. He called the PML-N “phone league”, saying the party had a culture of formulating policies after receiving phone calls from certain quarters. The ban on prime minister’s third term was PML-N’s issue instead of masses, he said. He said the incident of firing at the house of PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was state terrorism.

He said even now PML-N leaders could take a U-turn if on a mere phone call. He said democracy could not take root in the country because of anti-democratic practices. He alleged the PML-N and PPP were ridiculing the rights of the people. He alleged that rigging in PP-111 was patronized by the federal government.

Opposition Leader Chaudhry Zaheer ud Din News

U-Turn by Nawaz exposed PML-N politics: Elahi

U-Turn by Nawaz exposed PML-N politics: Elahi

LAHORE: Challenging Sharif Brothers to hold transparent elections under the supervision of judiciary in PP-111 (Gujrat), President Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) Punjab Chapter, Chaudhary Pervez Elahi has said that the u-turn taken by PML-N over reforms package showed their political ethics.

Talking to different leaders and delegations of his party, the former Punjab Chief Minister said that the rigging and attacks by workers of N-League on Assistant Women Presiding Officers and polling staff exposed the so-called high values of PML-N.

Chaudhary Pervez Elahi said that the U-Turn taken by PML-N over constitutional reforms after Gujrat Elections clearly exposed its hypocrisy and double standards.

He said that Sharif Brothers, before Gujrat by-elections tried to get support of PPP and soon after the issuance of the notification of results, deceived PPP.

Commenting on financial situation of the province, he said that the poor policies of Shahbaz Sharif plunged the province into further crisis and the overdraft of Rs. 27 billion obtained by Punjab from the State Bank of Pakistan reflected the bankruptcy of the province.

Shahbaz Sharif initiated firing on his house: Pervez Elahi

Shahbaz Sharif initiated firing on his house: Pervez Elahi

GUJRAT: Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has accused the Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif of initiating the firing on his house and the police remained silent spectator, adding, the people of Gujrat exposed the real fact of Sharif brothers.

Talking to media persons here on Thursday, he announced that we would take out protest demonstration and alleged that PML-N was doing politics of hypocrisy.

He said that Nawaz Sharif took u-turn after the Gujrat bye-elections and started criticizing the government, adding, no clash took place between the activists of PML-Q and PML-N.

He said that after carrying out massive rigging in the elections, now Shahbaz Sharif is initiating firing on their houses.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, he said Election Commission of Pakistan proved that PML-N has carried out massive rigging by stopping the results of by election in PP 111.

He said the PML-N pressurized the returning officer to announce elections results in his favor and on his denial to do so, he was made hostage by locking him in room but he managed to escape and informed the Election Commission of Pakistan about rigging in the by election.

The PML-Q central leader thanked the people of Gujrat for supporting his party and said that the people have unveiled Punjab Government’s rigging. He said that it was a befitting reply to the Punjab and Federal Government, adding that politics of PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was based on hypocrisy and personal interests.

He said that the workers of PML-Q were threatened by Punjab Government, adding that the officials of special branch had harassed the poling agents and ladies workers of PML-Q. He said that PML-N changed its policy in afternoon after seeing its confirmed defeat and special branch’s officials ousted the ladies polling staff in ladies polling stations and stamped on ballet papers.

He said that Shahbaz Sharif had directed the government officials to even burnt the polling booth where they were failing to do something in their favor. He considered Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif responsible for all this events and said that CM Punjab was the enemy of people of Gujrat.

On this occasion PML-Q leader and candidate in by elections of PP 111 said that he challenged Punjab government to hold the elections again and he would win it. PML-Q leader Chaudhary Shifat Hussain was also present there.

PML-Q demands re-polling in PP-111

LAHORE - PML-Q Secretary General Punjab Ch Zaheer-ud-Din has demanded re-polling in PP-111 under the supervision of Rangers, as the people of Gujrat have rejected the ‘tampered’ results of the by-polls in the constituency.
Ch Zaheer, who was also Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly, expressed these views while talking to newsmen at Opposition Chambers on Friday.
He said firing incidents and torture on women in Gujrat was carried out on the directives of chief minister Punjab and Sardar Zulfikar Khosa and the PML-Q would register cases against both of them, Ch Zaheer added.
He said the provincial government had committed first crime by rigging the PP-111 by-polls and committed another crime by imposing Section 144 in Gujrat in a bid to contain the supporters of PML-Q from protesting against the immoral provincial government.
He said that issues of rigging in Gujrat by-polls and torture on women would be raised in the coming session of Punjab Assembly. He said PML-N has always practised the politics of rigging and the masses have seen their real face in PP-111.
Meanwhile, PML-Q women members of provincial assembly including Seemal Kamran, Amna Ulfat, Samina Khawar Hayat, Majida Zaidi, Dr Samaya Amjad and leaders Yousuf Ahad Malik, Akram Ch and party workers taken out a protest rally against the alleged rigging of PML-N in PP-111 by-polls.