Peshawar, OCT 16: PTI Chairman Imran Khan won the NA-31 Peshawar-V seat after beating ANP’s Ghulam Ahmed Bilour as unofficial results of eight National Assembly, and three Punjab Assembly constituencies pour in.

Khan bagged 57,824 to defeat his rival, according to unofficial results, with Bilour securing 32,253 votes — allowing the PTI chairman to win by more than 25,000 votes.

PTI is ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on multiple seats, according to unofficial results.

The counting of votes started at 5pm after the polling — which started at 8am — was held without interruptions despite intense political activity. Sporadic clashes were reported in some constituencies.

On the eighth seat that Khan wasn’t contesting, PDM candidate Musa Ali Gillani emerged victorious, according to unofficial results.

Musa — the son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani — bagged 79,743 votes and took a lead of 19,750 as Meher — the daughter of PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi — was able to secure 59,993 votes, according to unofficial results.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that overall, the polling process remained peaceful, and the commission’s central control room received 15 complaints of code violations.

MULTAN, OCT 16: In a setback to Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) joint candidate Musa Gilani defeated PTI candidate Meher Bano Qureshi.

Musa — the son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani — bagged 79,743 votes and took a lead of 19,750 as Meher — the daughter of PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi — was able to secure 59,993 votes, according to unofficial results.

Tough competition was expected between the two candidates as nearly 10 years ago, in early 2012, Gilani won the NA seat from Multan that was vacated by Qureshi, who had joined the PTI by then.

In a press conference after the unofficial results were in, Yousaf told journalists that he was thankful to PPP for awarding his son the ticket and praised PML-N and the coalition alliance for supporting Musa.

“I am thankful to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman,” the ex-prime minister said.

Gillani also slammed PTI Chairman Khan and said that his narrative had led to instability in the country.

PTI in lead as unofficial results for eight NA, three Punjab Assembly seats pour in

LAHORE, OCT 16: Voting for by-elections in 11 constituencies in three provinces came to an end and counting began on Sunday, with reports of clashes between PTI and ANP workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PTI claims of a lawmaker being “attacked” by “PPP goons” outside a polling station in Karachi marring an otherwise peaceful polling process.

Key developments

• Imran says he’s contesting against PDM, ECP and “namaloom afraad”.
• ECP rejects Imran Khan’s claims as “baseless and misleading”.
• Workers of PTI and ANP clash in Peshawar polling station; one injured, two taken into custody.
• Rana Sanaullah issued notice by Punjab election commission for code of conduct violation in Faisalabad.
• PTI claims PPP “goons” attacked MPA Bilal Ghaffar in Karachi; police say it was a personal dispute.
• PPP’s Saeed Ghani says PTI losing and making excuses.
• PPP’s Sharjeel posts video and claims PTI worker threatening election official in Karachi.
• Three arrested in Sheikhupura for allegedly possessing weapons.

The polling process started at 8am and culminated at 5pm.

The by-elections were held for three seats each of the national and provincial assembly in Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib and Multan in Punjab; three NA seats in Charsadda, Peshawar and Mardan in KP; and two NA seats in Sindh’s Korangi and Malir.

It is unprecedented in the country’s political history that one candidate, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, is running for as many as seven NA seats out of eight up for grabs.

As polling commenced, Imran tweeted that he was contesting against “all of PDM, the Election Commission and ‘namaloom afraad’”.

After braving broadsides from the PTI leadership throughout the day, the ECP, in a statement issued in the afternoon, said the statements of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Omar Ayub, Farrukh Habib and others are “completely baseless and misleading and have no relation to reality”.

“The ECP is determined to conduct free, fair and impartial elections, and so far, with the blessings of God, it is what is happening.

“If anyone tries to influence the election process, he will be dealt with strictly according to the Constitution and law.”

A total of 101 candidates from different political parties and independents are taking part in the vote: 52 in Punjab, 33 in Sindh and 16 in KP. Around 4.472 million voters are registered in these constituencies.

The ECP said in a statement that it has passed “strict instructions” to provincial election commissioners to ensure the immediate arrest of anyone that tries to influence the polling process.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and multilateral donors to provide greater policy support.

He asked the IMF to tailor its response to the situation in Pakistan and similar countries by taking into consideration the serious economic, social and political challenges that they face amid climate-induced calamities, according to a press release issued by the finance ministry.

Dar made the remarks while addressing a meeting of Menap (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) ministers of finance and central bank governors with the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

During the meeting, Goergieva spoke about the challenges regional economies were facing, including those related to climate change, such as the destructive floods in Pakistan. She expressed sympathy with Pakistan and assured the country of the Fund’s full support, the statement added.

For his part, Dar thanked the IMF official for her support and assured Pakistan’s commitment to completing the ongoing programme. “[The] finance minister highlighted the humanitarian catastrophe and losses suffered by the country. Given the scale of disaster, he pleaded [for] more policy support for Pakistan.”

Dar also welcomed new IMF instruments — Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) and Food Shock Window under Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) — to support countries.

The finance minister, who is on a week-long visit to the US to attend annual meetings of the World Bank and the IMF, had another busy day on Sunday as he held multiple meetings with officials of other countries and international financial institutions.

Separately, Dar, along with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmed met Queen Maxima of the Netherlands to discuss financial inclusion and equality in banking.

The two sides reiterated their commitment to work together to achieve fast progress, the finance ministry said in a press release.

In his meeting with Director General of Kuwait Fund Marwan Abdullah Yusuf Thunayan Al- Ghanem, the finance minister appreciated the fund’s contribution to Pakistan’s economic development. He also discussed ongoing projects and potential new areas of investment.

Separately, during his meeting with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa, Dar thanked the multilateral lender for its support over the years and its commitments following the devastating floods.

The ADB president assured the finance minister of approval of the BRACE programme amounting to $1.5 billion and continued support to Pakistan. Dar also met International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director Makhtar Diop, with whom he discussed potential means of enhancing IFC’s engagement in Pakistan and assured all facilitation in this regard.

LAHORE, OCT 16: Pakistan witnessed intense political activity as the polling for the crucial by-elections on eight National Assembly, and three Punjab Assemblyentered the final stage, with reports of sporadic clashes in different constituencies.

Scores of candidates are contesting for the seats up for grabs across the country. The constituencies where polling is taking place are: NA-22 Mardan-III, NA-24 Charsadda-II, NA-31 Peshawar-V, NA-108 Faisalabad-VIII, NA-118 Nankana Sahib -II, NA 157 Multan-IV, NA-237 Malir-II, NA-239 Korangi, Karachi-I.

The by-poll on NA 45, a tribal area seat, has been postponed over law and order situation.

The lower house seats were vacated after NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had accepted the resignations of PTI MNAs — nine on general seats and two on reserved seats for women.

Moreover, by-elections are also being held on three Punjab Assembly seats — PP-241 Bahawal­nagar-V; PP-209 Khanewal-VII, and PP-139 Sheikhupura-V.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan is contesting on seven out of eight NA seats.

As the polling process started, Khan urged the people in the constituencies where the by-election is being held to come out in large numbers to vote.

“This is a referendum for Haqiqi Azadi from the cabal of crooks. We are contesting against all of PDM, the Election Commission and ‘namaloom afraad’,” he said in a tweet.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked the voters to decide wisely about who they are voting for as the “development and welfare of your country depends on it”. 

He also urged the people to participate fully in the polling.

“This [by-polls] is a constitutional and legal process and only people have the right to elect who they want,” he wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, reports of sporadic clashes and other incidents involving PTI and Awami National Party marring peaceful by-polls were received during polling at different constituencies across the country. 

Sindh

PTI Karachi President Bilal Ghaffar suffered a nasal fracture after he was attacked during the voting process at one of the polling stations in Karachi’s Malir.

PTI leader Jamal Siddiqi accused PPP’s Saleem Baloch of attacking Ghaffar in Bakra Piri area in Malir. He alleged that over two dozen men attacked Ghaffar with bricks when he went to inpect a polling station near Bakra Piri, leaving him “seriously injured.”

Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson also confirmed the attack and said he was being treated at a nearby hospital.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A leader of the Awami National Party Samar Bilour violated the ECP’s code of conduct by releasing a video of casting a vote at a polling station in Peshawar’s NA-31 Peshawar-V

Responding to the matter, Bilour said that a worker had made the video which she shared on social media. She said that she wasn’t aware that making or posting such a video is a violation of ECP code.

“I deleted the video when I got to know about the ECP rules,” Bilour said.

Punjab

In Punjab, the polling process at a poling station in NA-157, Sardar Pur area of Multan was stopped as the workers of two political parties engaged in a quarrel following allegations of rigging.

However, the polling was resumed soon after.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Farrukh Habib levelled allegations of difference in the voters list available with the presiding officer and those provided to the candidates. He claimed that the presiding officer’s list did not include the names of PTI voters but list with these names were provided after the party workers protested.

Individuals interfering in polling process to be held: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja has ordered the authorities to immediately arrest the individials involved in rioting and interfering in the polling process.

“Any government official if found involved in rigging will be arrested right awat and no liniency will be shown to him,” CEC Raja said while directing the authorities concerned to ensure peaceful voting.

He also urged the people to come out to vote without any fear.

Spokesperson of election commission said that Raja is personally monitoring the polling process which will continue without interval till 5pm.

The by-polls are the latest twist in political wrangling that began after Khan’s April 10 ouster via a parliamentary no-confidence vote — making him the first prime minister to be voted out of office.

Candidates can stand for multiple seats in elections. If they win more than one, they choose which to keep, and a separate vote must later be held for those forfeited.

The by-elections come as the nation grapples with the aftermath of devastating monsoon floods that affected more than 30 million people and left a third of the country under water.

HEC, Pakistan HC in Sri Lanka hold Pre-Departure Orientation for Lankan Students

ISLAMABAD/COLOMBO, OCT 16: /DNA/ – Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan in collaboration with Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka organised a joint Pre-departure Orientation and Scholarship Award Ceremony for Sri Lankan students in Colombo.

Out of 1400 Sri Lankan students who applied for the scholarship, 396 Sri Lankan students have secured Allama Iqbal Scholarships under HEC’s project, Pak-Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation Programme. Under the Allama Iqbal Scholarships Programme, 237 Sri Lankan students are already studying in Pakistan

Alongside Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail, Director General (Scholarships) HEC Aayesha Ikram, and Project Director HEC Jehanzeb Khan, the parents of the successful awardees were also present during this event.   

Addressing the ceremony, Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail congratulated the scholarship awardees and highlighted the importance of Pak-Sri Lanka long-lasting friendship. She shed light on the HEC functions and the objectives of Pak-Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation Programme. She said that HEC has been putting efforts to increase access to higher education, enhance quality and ensure relevance. She added that the Pakistani universities are putting emphasis on soft skills in view of their significance in the today’s world. She briefed the audience about the other offerings of HEC for the academic fraternity of Sri Lanka, which included, a faculty exchange program, training of Sri Lankan senior civil servants in Pakistan, and the establishment of a centre of Asian Civilization and Culture in Sri Lanka.

High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. (Retd) Umar Farooq Burki shed light on the life and services of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, after whom the scholarship programme for Sri Lankan students has been named. He said the scholarship programme will bring the people of Pakistan and Sri Lanka closer and strengthen the brotherly bonds between them.

He also dilated on the personality and educational philosophy of Allama Iqbal. “Iqbal was a philosopher, lawyer, political leader and above all an educationist. He was a South Asian whose poetry was considered among the greatest works of the 20th century,” he said, adding that Iqbal’s ideology was translated into foundation of Pakistan by the efforts of the country’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. 

Project Director Jehanzeb Khan apprised the new scholars of the details of the scholarship and the Pakistani universities that the Sri Lankan students will soon join. The Sri Lankan scholars and their parents took keen interest in knowing about their brotherly country Pakistan and participated in the question/answer session with great enthusiasm. Sri Lankan alumni of Pakistani universities also expressed their views and shared with the scholarship recipients their experiences in Pakistani higher education institutions.

The Government of Pakistan launched the Pak-Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation Programme in 2018-2019. Under this programme, 800 fully-funded and 200 partially-funded Allama Iqbal Scholarships are being awarded to Sri Lankan students in all disciplines at BS, MS and PhD levels.