ISLAMABAD: The outgoing ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), continues to face significant political challenges ahead of the general elections, prompting its leader and former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to warn the authorities not to rig the system because it will give rise to a major political storm in the country.
Sharif was barred from holding a public office in July last year when the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued its verdict in the Panama Papers case. Ever since, he has been subjected to a tough accountability process along with some of his other family members as a number of corruption references have been opened against them.
Despite these predicaments, the PML-N performed significantly well in the by-elections that followed Sharif’s ouster as prime minister. However, the party was nearly disenfranchised before the Senate polls earlier this year when another apex court verdict not only prevented Sharif from heading his own political faction but also declared all the decisions he had taken in that capacity after his disqualification as null and void. Subsequently, all PML-N candidates, who were bracing for the Senate elections, had to participate in the contest as independents.
It was against this backdrop that the PML-N leader issued his warning to the powers-that-be while interacting with a group of journalists in London on Saturday. According to local news outlets, he claimed that some of his party candidates had been threatened -– and even manhandled -– while urging the caretaker prime minister and chief election commissioner to look into the matter and provide a level playing field to all political parties.
Local media also reported on Sunday that seven PML-N candidates from Dera Ghazi Khan district in south Punjab turned down their party tickets on the last day of symbol allotment and announced that they would contest the polls independently. The eleventh-hour move implies that the party is no longer in a position to field other candidates from the vacant constituencies.
Outgoing ruling party bemoans system rigging, warns of political storm ahead
Outgoing ruling party bemoans system rigging, warns of political storm ahead
- The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has faced significant predicaments since the disqualification of its leader as the country’s prime minister in July last year, though it has continued to perform well in by-elections
- Nawaz Sharif warns the authorities not to rig the system because it will give rise to a major political storm in the country
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
