The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Tuesday the PTI had received “prohibited funds” as it announced a unanimous verdict in a years-long investigation into the funding sources of the entity. In its 70-page verdict, the ECP listed all individuals and entities, including the disgraced business tycoon Arif Naqvi, who sent the prohibited funds, saying Khan’s party “knowingly and willfully received these donations.”
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday warned of imposing governor’s rule in Punjab if he was restricted from entering the province. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said he had already begun drafting a summary for the imposition of governor’s rule, which is moved by the interior ministry, because of the kind of statements opposition political leaders had been making.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the “long-delayed” judgement in the prohibited funding case, previously referred to as the foreign funding case, against the PTI. “For long has Imran Niazi been given a free pass despite his repeated and shameless attacks on state institutions. Impunity given to him has hurt the country,” he tweeted.6
The Chief Justice of Pakistan CJP Umar Ata Bandial has said that the country has to be taken towards a “mature democracy.” The remark came during the hearing of the presidential reference seeking the interpretation of Article 63(A) of the Constitution. He observed that the votes of the dissidents should not be counted to ensure national interest and to end the scourge of shifting loyalties.
The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside deputy speaker’s ruling to dismiss the no-trust resolution against Prime Minister Imran. It also dismissed the subsequent dissolution of the NA by the president on the PM’s advice, with all five judges unanimously voting 5-0 against it. The SC then ordered for session of National Assembly to reconvene on Saturday.
The federal government had removed Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar from his post, appointing Omer Sarfraz Cheema as his replacement. The announcement also came hours before a crucial session of the National Assembly on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as a sitting of the Punjab Assembly to elect a new leader of the house following Usman Buzdar’s resignation.
The resolution against the embattled premier was tabled by the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on March 28 and it was approved for debate the very same day. The no-confidence motion, signed by about 100 lawmakers from the PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was submitted before the National Assembly Secretariat. The leaders alleged that the Imran Khan-led government was responsible for rising inflation.
The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has announced PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as its candidate for Punjab chief minister after incumbent Usman Buzdar presented his resignation to the prime minister. Prime minister’s aide on political communication, Shahbaz Gill, made the announcement on Twitter. The development comes less than an hour after the opposition formally tabled a no-confidence resolution against PM Imran in the National Assembly.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a video message has invited Pakistanis to attend the March 27 rally in support of his government. The rally will be held in Islamabad ahead of the no-confidence vote against the PM by the opposition. The premiere said the Qur’an had ordered Muslims to stand with the “good against evil.”
Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Shibli Faraz on Wednesday has advised the public to use “as little fuel as possible”, in order to avoid getting effected by the recent hike in fuel prices. Speaking to journalists at the Parliament House, the minister said that it would’ve been a different case if Pakistan made its own petrol or if the country had oil wells.