LATEST NEWS ECP

• Notification(AMENDMENTS)
• Notification(PP-107 Hafizabad - III)
• Programme (Bye Election PP-107)
• Notification(PK-90 Chitral-II)
• Programme (Bye Election PP-136)
• RO/DRO PP-136
• LG Schedule Balochistan (Reserved Seats)
• Appellate Authorities LG Balochistan
• Notification(NA-89 Jhang)
• Repoll NA-202
• RO/DRO (Bye Election NA-202)
• Programme (Bye Election NA-46)
• RO/DRO NA-46
• Programme (Bye Election PP-259)
• RO/DRO PP-259

New Website for KP Assembly Launched

New Website for KP Assembly Launched at http://www.pakp.gov.pk/2013

Browsing through government websites is usually a testing if not traumatizing experience as one has to wade through a clutter of information only to not find what you are looking for in the end. However, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly�s newly-launched website with systematically arranged and updated information is a pleasant surprise with interesting info-graphics and details about assembly business.

The new website of the assembly was launched on April 11 and contains a treasure trove of updated information about legislative and non-legislative business of the house, its workings and members. "We have attempted to bring uniqueness in every aspect,� said the assembly�s additional secretary and director IT Attaullah Khan while talking to The Express Tribune.

Khan said they have made a basic structure and will work on it further for two to three months to make it a �masterpiece�. The site will also offer a virtual tour of the assembly.

PML-N govt outshines PPP in performance: New Gallup poll

ISLAMABAD: Even before completing a year in power, the Pakistan Muslim League � Nawaz (PML-N) government has managed to outshine the previous Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) regime with a majority of Pakistanis reporting to be satisfied with its performance and policies, a recent Gallup Pakistan poll showed.

Despite inheriting a fragile economy, deteriorating law and order, strained ties with neighbouring countries, rampant corruption, and uncontrollable inflation, the government, in public opinion, seems to have managed to put the things in order through independent and prudent policies since coming into power since last June.

The Gallup�s Annual Public Pulse Report 2014 reveals that the PML-N government�s overall performance ratings showed an improvement of 59% points over that of the PPP government.

The PML-N government got a green card with mostly favourable overally ratings with an overall governance score of 55% favourable and 40% unfavourable with a positive balance of 15% points.

A year ago only 27% of respondents had given favourable and 71% negative ratings to the then PPP government, with a negative balance of 44% points.

The Gallup�s study is based on findings from a nationally representative poll in the rural and urban areas of all the four provinces with a sample size was 2,596 adult men and women through face to face interviews. The interviewees were selected through probability sampling method with an error margin of 3-5% at 95% confidence level. Field work was carried out from January 6 to 13, 2014.

For the six key indicators including economy, Pak-India relations, overall foreign policy, terrorism control, corruption control and inflation control, the present government received positive comparative net performance ratings.

�Economy recorded a positive 48% comparative net performance, Pak India relations 22%, foreign policy 33%, terrorism control 31%, corruption control 36% and inflation control 20% net change,� said the report.

On issues of controlling inflation, terrorism and corruption, the present government showed an improvement over the the previous government by 20% , 31% and 36% respectively.

The Gallup Pakistan survey shows that the government performance still needed improvement but it was far better than that of the PPP government.

Political leaders

The net performance ratings for political leaders saw Nawaz Sharif (PML-N) at the top with 18% favourable.

PTI�s Imran Khan was rated at -5% (unfavourable).

PPP�s Asif Ali Zardari was rated at -28%, while MQM�s Altaf Hussain was rated at -39%.

JUI-F�s Maulana Fazlur Rahman was rated at at -21% and ANP�s Asfandyar Wali Khan at -34%.

Provincial chief ministers

Another aspect covered by the Gallup Pakistan Survey is the performance of provincial chief ministers (CMs).

Performance of Punjab chief minister was rated as very good by 21% of respondents and good by 28%.

Sindh chief minister obtained 6% �very good� ratings.

CM K-P and CM Balochistan each got 4% rating as �very good�.

CM Punjab topped the list by obtaining 26% overall net performance rating. But other chief ministers remained on the negative list with CM Sindh obtaining -9%, CM KP -11% and CM Balochistan at -14%.

In comparison to the previous government, CM Punjab improved his performance by 6% as from 2013. CM Sindh improved his rating by 18%. The new CMs in K-P and Balochistan were favourably viewed compared to in 2013, with Balochistan�s Abdul Malik registering a 20% higher performance rating and Pervez Khattak recorded a 16% improvement over their predecessors.

State institutions

Regarding state institutions, the survey reveals that net performance ratings of armed forces improved up to 49%, Supreme Court 27% and Parliament 8%.

However, performance of other institutions including police, lower courts and political parties all received negative ratings.

Comparative net performance ratings for state institutions as compared to 2013, however, improved. Armed forces recorded a net change of 4%, police 8%, lower courts 2%, Parliament 30% and political parties 20%.

Comparative Net Performance ratings from January 2014 compared with January 2013, for civil society institutions were also recorded.

NGOs recorded a positive 15% change, media 3%, educational institutions (schools and colleges) 3% and religious leaders recorded 7%.

SC directs Punjab govt to hold LB polls by Nov 19

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday issued a detailed verdict regarding Local Body (LB) elections in Punjab to be held by November 19.

The verdict comprising of 16 pages was issued by the Chief Justice (CJ) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, in which the Government of Punjab was directed to take steps for holding LB elections in the province by November 19.

He also urged for an amendment in the Punjab Local Government Act in this regard.

The SC declared the conduct of LB elections as the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and these polls not being held in the country for 9 years is a violation of constitution, whose continuity cannot be allowed.

SC orders govt to empower ECP

ISLAMABAD - Retaining the same views expressed in Sindh local government elections case, the Supreme Court Friday again directed the federal government to make necessary laws to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to carry out delimitation of constituencies in Punjab as well.

Allowing the appeal of the ECP against the Lahore High Court judgement, the SC directed the Punjab government to make corresponding amendments in the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013.

The detailed judgement authored by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani ruled that the Election Commission shall, thereafter, proceed to carry out the delimitation of constituencies in Punjab afresh.

The court in its short order on March 19, 2014 had ruled that the power to hold elections of the local government stand vested in the Election Commission of Pakistan in terms of Article 140A of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The ECP has been mandated to "organise and conduct the election and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against," the order stated.

Since the holding of election of local govt has been delayed for more than nine years, which is violative of the constitutional command, we are persuaded to direct the governments, federal and provincial (Punjab) to carry out appropriate amendments/legislation to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan to initiate and carry out the process of delimitation of constituencies for the local government elections, the court had further ruled.

The court had ordered that the said exercise should be completed within a period of five months and the Election Commission of Pakistan shall thereafter take requisite measures to carry out the process of delimitation of constituencies for the local government expeditiously so as to complete the same within a period of 45 days of the enactment/amendments in laws in terms of this order.

The Election Commission of Pakistan was further directed to ensure that the announcement of election schedule and the process of holding it is complete by or before 15th of November, 2014.

The Lahore High Court on February 3, 2014 while deciding the petition filed by the government of Punjab ruled that Sections 8 to 10 of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013 and Rules 3 to 8 of the Punjab Local Governments (Delimitation) Rules, 2013 are inconsistent with Article 218(3) read with Article 222(b) of the Constitution as they abridge and take away the Constitutional role and obligation of ECP besides offending Articles 3, 4, 9, 14, 17, 19 and 25 of the Constitution.

The court had declared the aforesaid provisions of the Act as unconstitutional and set aside the impugned orders of delimitation authority and the impugned final notifications issued by the delimitation officers. The court had directed the ECP to perform its constitutional role without further ado and hold elections to the local governments in Punjab forthwith, adding that ECP needs not to wait for the legislative amendments to the act in the light of this judgement.

Muhammad Akram Sheikh, counsel for the ECP, however, while arguing the case submitted that in the absence of appropriate laws the ECP cannot carry out its mandate of holding fair elections for the local government. He further added that in the face of this flawed legal position, this court can direct the government to initiate appropriate legislation.

SC ORDERS PUNJAB POLICE TO

RECOVER MISSING BROTHERS

Online adds: Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ordered Punjab police to recover two brothers went missing in Lahore till April 16 and submit a progress report in this regard.

Heading a three-member bench of the apex court while hearing missing persons case Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked, "Only the person whose relative has gone missing can know the real pain. How can the officers performing duty while sitting in air-conditioned rooms feel the pain of separation from the near and dear ones. Evidence is available with reference to Elite Force. Making no progress despite these proofs is a matter of grave concern�.

Justice Khawaja said investigation team had told that a federal intelligence agency was involved in the matter.

The court was told that during the course of hearing of the case Khalid Khalil and Hassan Abdullah were picked up from their homes when they were making preparations for wedding of their sister. Several people had spotted them.

DIG Zulfiqar told the court that FIR was registered with Hanjarwall Police Station and there were evidence that a federal intelligence agency was involved in it.

Justice Khawaja remarked, "17 months have been elapsed and these two brothers are still non-traceable. Either earth has devoured these two brothers or heaven. Concrete evidence is available and even then they are not being located�.

He directed DIG Zulfiqar to take personal interest and trace out these two brothers. Investigation team should meet Advocate General Punjab and petitioner.

More evidence be collected.

The court directed attorney general to recover two brothers till April 16. �Police should also present a report before SC in this regard,� court further ruled.