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.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16 /DNA/ – Vice Chancellor Air University Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed (Retd) has stressed the need of promoting career-focused education, stating that: “Air University focuses on enhancing the employability skills in order to facilitate students for choosing a perfect career path.” He was addressing the concluding session in connection with the first-ever Career Counseling Week (AUCCW 2022) organized by the AU Career Support Office. On the occasion, Director Student Affairs Fazaila Ali, Assistant Director Sabahuddin Qazi, Placement Officials Gulnaz Batool, Misbah Shahid, Mobeen Jamshed and other distinguished guests were also present. 

The Vice Chancellor, in his address, emphasized that a career-oriented education is the need of time that empowers students, through academic programs and co-curricular activities, to identify their professional goals and let them move forward in the right direction to achieve successes. “Air University is taking various initiatives facilitating students to earn their valuable degree, develop bright destiny, and ensure a solid foundation for their future achievements,” he further said.

Answering a question about the importance of CGPA in job hirings, the VC acknowledged that the CGPA is usually considered the most important factor when being shortlisted for a job position. “You might get a job offer based on your academic performance, but in order to secure the seat and compete in the job market, you need to demonstrate extraordinary competencies related to creative thinking, interpersonal skills, team spirit, decision-making, and a strong grip on technology,” he stated.

“It is a universal fact that students who are more self-aware and clear on their career strengths feel more confident to explore professional opportunities,” DSA Fazaila Ali expressed while expressing her views with students. “The key objectives for organizing the Career Counseling Week include to brief newly-enrolled students of 1st semester about the significance of choosing the right career path, to test and evaluate job readiness skills, and to devise a concrete plan of action in support of career planning and development,” she emphasized.

“The data obtained could also be beneficial for research purpose and decision making process to find out more about students’ career readiness, their strengths and needs for grooming,” Sabahuddin Qazi, who heads Career Support Office, stated, informing that “it will also provide a comprehensive framework for addressing career-related goals and outcomes of curricular and co-curricular activities in terms of student’s field of study and interest areas.”

According to him, a total nine sessions were held throughout the week starting from October 10, during which the AU Career Counseling core team, composed of Gulnaz Batool, Misbah Shahid and Mobeen Jamshed, evaluated the employability skills and career readiness competencies that employers value most in the recruitment process. “The participating students were thoroughly tested on the basis of job readiness competencies, as per international best practices,” he stated.

RAWALPINDI, Oct 15 (DNA): National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)
will simultaneously hold its Medical and Dental College Admission Test
(MDCAT) across the country and overseas in Saudi Arabia and United Arab
Emirates for admission in MBBS/BDS programmes on October 16 (Sunday).

MDCAT for NUMS is being held for admission in 13 medical and Dental
colleges. The students seeking admission in these colleges this year are
no longer required to sit any other test as per the decision of Pakistan
Medical Commission (PMC) last month. The nomenclature of NUMS Entry Test
(NET) has been changed to MDCAT for NUMS 2022.

All the candidates for MBBS and BDS will have to secure 55% and 45 %
passing marks respectively to be successful in the test, said the
University Registrar Brig Muhammed Azhar (Retd) here on Saturday.

Over 70,000 candidates having Pakistani nationality will be taking the
test at their respective Exam Centers to compete for 2075 (two thousand
seventy-five) seats. Of all the contesting candidates, 46,582 girls and
23,641 boys have applied for admission. The result of MDCAT for NUMS is
expected to be announced within two to three weeks, said the Registrar.

MDCAT for NUMS MBBS/BDS Session 2022 will take place at the Examination
Centers, set up in 20 different cities including the Federal Capital
Islamabad, in four provincial capitals, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and
NUMS centers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The University has finalized the arrangements to conduct its MDCAT in a
transparent manner and trained staff has already been deployed at its
examination centers. A special Control Room has been set up at NUMS
Secretariat to monitor and coordinate with all the examination centres
in real time. NUMS has urged the candidates to reach, along with their
required documents, to their respective examination centres two hours
before the start of the test. DNA

Says Biden’s statement belies govt’s claims of a ‘reset’ ties with US

My greatest worry is govt compromising national security: Khan

ISLAMABAD, OCT 15 /DNA/ – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan categorically stated that Pakistan has one of the most secure nuclear command and control systems’ unlike the US which has been involved in wars across the world.

In a tit-for-tat response to the US President Joe Biden’s controversial statement pertaining to Pakistani’s nuclear programme, PTI Chairman on Saturday said that the US President’s controversial statement clearly reflected the failure of the imported government’s claims of a “reset” in relations with the US foreign policy.

Imran Khan asked: “On what information has Biden reached this unwarranted conclusion on our nuclear capability when, having been PM, I know we have one of the most secure nuclear command & control systems.”

 “Unlike the US which has been involved in wars across the world, when has Pakistan shown aggression especially post-nuclearisation?” he further asked.

Lashing out at the imported government for what he said it has broken all records for incompetence, the PTI Chairman said Biden statement showed the total failure of the imported government’s foreign policy and its claims of reset of relations with the US. “Is this the ‘reset’?”

He went on to say that his greatest worry was that apart from leading the country to economic ruin and NRO II for themselves, giving a license to white-collar criminals to plunder the country, this government will also end up completely compromising national security. DNA