hassan murtaza slams
| |

Hassan Murtaza slams alleged AJK rigging

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza has accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.

Murtaza said the election process was marred by serious violations of the electoral code of conduct. He alleged that the rules were repeatedly ignored during polling.

He made these remarks while addressing a press conference in Lahore.

Murtaza also criticised the role of the Election Commission during the elections. He alleged that the commission failed to perform its duties impartially. According to him, it appeared to be acting like an election agent instead of an independent institution.

The PPP leader strongly criticised the PML-N over the election results. He accused the party of setting a new example of electoral manipulation.

“You steal the mandate of whoever you want,” Murtaza said while criticising the PML-N.

He also referred to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s statements about AJK. Murtaza said Sharif was now visiting Kashmir and calling for himself to be made prime minister.

The PPP leader said the current political situation in AJK was also linked to the sacrifices and political role of the PPP.

Murtaza said that if Nawaz Sharif was able to go to Kashmir today and demand the prime minister’s position, it was partly because of the PPP’s political contribution.

The PPP leader also raised serious concerns over violence during the polling process.

He said a PPP worker was killed on election day. Murtaza described the incident as a serious matter that would remain part of the political record.

He said history would record what happened during the elections. It would also establish who was responsible for the violence and who lost his life.

The allegations came after the PML-N emerged as the leading party in the first phase of the AJK elections. The party secured nine seats, according to the results cited in the report

Similar Posts

  • Thailand to Transform Cannabis Shops into Medical Clinics

    BANGKOK — Thailand’s new administration is steering the country’s cannabis industry tightly toward a medical framework, with ordinary cannabis shops set to disappear as operators renewing their licences will be required to transform their businesses into medical facilities, the Bangkok Post reported. Krabi Police Raid Israeli-Linked Cannabis Farm Operated Through Thai Nominees The policy shift […]

  • | |

    Chinese Ambassador vows expanded collaboration wit…

    FAISALABAD : Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Jiang Zaidong, has reaffirmed China’s steadfast commitment to broadening cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in the critical sectors of poverty alleviation, agriculture, education, and vocational training. The Ambassador made these remarks during an interactive session at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), where he met with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, senior university officials, Chinese alumni, and representatives from academia and government. Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Jiang emphasized that as an agrarian economy, Pakistan holds immense potential to combat poverty through the revitalization and modernization of its agricultural sector. He announced that China intends to deepen collaboration in agricultural education, training, and technology transfer. Drawing on his country’s developmental journey, he underlined that strong leadership, consistent long-term policies, and a people-centered approach are fundamental to national progress. Praising UAF’s role in fostering bilateral ties, the envoy lauded the university and its Confucius Institute for significantly strengthening educational and cultural linkages between the two nations. He stressed that academic collaboration and scientific innovation remain vital pillars of the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and China. He remarked that Pakistan and China enjoy an exemplary friendship, built on a foundation of mutual trust, respect, and shared prosperity. In his response, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali expressed pride in the university’s role as a bridge between the two countries, facilitating academic partnerships, joint research, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges. He noted that 100 UAF faculty members are graduates of Chinese universities, and that several joint laboratories have already yielded patented technologies. The Confucius Institute at UAF, recognized as a top-model institute globally, has trained over 35,000 students in Chinese language and culture and operates branches across 13 Pakistani universities. As a founding member of the Confucius Institute Global Agriculture Alliance, UAF continues to serve as a primary gateway for Sino-Pak collaboration, offering its diverse climates and fields for testing Chinese technology. Following the meeting, the Ambassador toured the UAF Exhibition Centre for a briefing on the university’s key research milestones and technological innovations. He then visited the Confucius Institute, where he explored the Pakistan-China 75th Anniversary Art and Cultural Exhibition, inspected smart classrooms and cultural activity facilities, and enjoyed vibrant performances presented by the institute’s students. The visit concluded with a tree plantation ceremony, during which Ambassador Jiang and Vice Chancellor Prof. Ali jointly planted a sapling—a tribute to their mutual commitment to sustainable cooperation and a greener future. Earlier, the envoy received a warm welcome at the Administration Block from the Vice Chancellor and Dr. Saddam Hussain, Dean of the Confucius Institute. The high-profile engagement further cemented the longstanding partnership between UAF and Chinese institutions, reflecting both countries’ shared resolve to promote excellence in education, research, innovation, agriculture, and cross-cultural understanding.

  • |

    US awards Lockheed up to $58.6 billion for Patriot missile production

    The United States has awarded Lockheed Martin a defence contract worth up to $58.6 billion to expand production of Patriot interceptor missiles, as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continue to put pressure on American weapons stockpiles. The agreement, announced by the Pentagon on Wednesday, is designed to strengthen the country’s air defence capabilities and ensure a steady supply of Patriot missiles over the coming years. The move comes after the United States supplied large quantities of military equipment to its allies while also using significant numbers of precision guided weapons during its own military operations against Iran. The new contract replaces an earlier one year agreement valued at $4.7 billion that was signed in April. It now establishes a seven year procurement framework covering the period from the 2026 to the 2032 fiscal years. According to the US Army, the longer term arrangement is expected to provide greater stability for production planning while helping manufacturers increase output to meet rising demand. The Pentagon has been urging defence companies to speed up production as global security challenges increase. Officials have been negotiating with major contractors throughout the year to secure higher manufacturing capacity for missiles and other critical military equipment. The administration of President Donald Trump has also increased pressure on defence firms to focus more heavily on fulfilling government contracts. Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order directing officials to identify companies that were failing to meet contract obligations while continuing to reward shareholders. The administration has argued that expanding production is essential as the US seeks to replenish military inventories. Industry leaders have welcomed the government’s long term procurement strategy, saying it gives manufacturers greater confidence to plan future investments. However, they have also noted that Congress must approve the necessary funding before companies can fully expand production facilities and hire additional workers. Many of the final details surrounding Pentagon weapons contracts, including delivery schedules and production targets, are still being negotiated. The Patriot missile agreement follows a similar initiative involving RTX, the parent company of Raytheon, aimed at increasing production of Tomahawk cruise missiles. Under that plan, annual output is expected to rise dramatically from around 60 missiles to as many as 1,000 each year once production reaches full capacity. Lockheed Martin said the latest contract will support its long term investment plans and help the company significantly expand manufacturing. The company expects to triple production capacity for its PAC 3 MSE interceptor missiles by the end of 2030. It also plans to increase its workforce at its Camden, Arkansas, facility by about 50 percent, raising employment from roughly 1,200 workers to around 1,850. The defence contractor has also announced plans to invest between $8 billion and $9 billion through 2030 to modernise more than 20 facilities across the United States. The investment includes the construction of new munitions production centres in Alabama and Arkansas to support increased manufacturing. The PAC 3 MSE interceptor is one of the most advanced missiles used within the Patriot air defence system. It is designed to destroy incoming ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft through direct impact rather than carrying an explosive warhead. The system has become an important part of air defence operations in several regions facing growing missile threats. Concerns over US missile inventories have intensified in recent months. The Washington based Center for Strategic and International Studies recently estimated that the US military has fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptors and fewer than 250 THAAD interceptors remaining in its stockpile. Both systems have been heavily used during recent military operations in the Middle East while the United States has also continued supplying advanced air defence equipment to partners facing ongoing security challenges.

  • |

    Jennifer Lopez turns 57 with a message of resilience

    Jennifer Lopez rang in her 57th birthday with words that struck a chord far beyond Hollywood. The actress and singer marked the occasion with a glowing Instagram video, filmed inside a car under bright sunshine, radiating the same energy fans have come to expect from her. What made the post stand out was not just the visuals. Lopez paired the clip with audio from Theodore Roosevelt’s iconic 1910 address, often remembered as “The Man in the Arena.” The speech is a tribute to those who dare to try, fail, and rise again, rather than sit on the sidelines offering criticism. It is a message about grit outlasting judgment, about effort mattering more than perfection. Lopez kept her own words brief. She simply noted that persistence tends to pay off the longer one sticks with it, a sentiment that mirrored the spirit of the speech itself. The birthday post followed an early celebration weeks earlier, when Lopez gathered with family and close friends at Siena, a well-known Parisian restaurant. According to a source who spoke to People magazine, she was glowing throughout the evening and seemed fully present in every moment. The dinner featured Mediterranean dishes, followed by a Chantilly-style cake topped with fresh berries and a torched meringue finish. Sparklers were lit as the group broke into a round of “Happy Birthday.” True to her generous nature, Lopez reportedly shared slices of the cake with other diners seated nearby, turning strangers into part of the celebration. As the night went on, the mood shifted. Live music took over, and Lopez was seen dancing, letting the evening stretch into something more spontaneous and joyful. The source described the shift as effortless, a natural extension of the celebratory atmosphere already in the room. Between the intimate Paris dinner and the reflective birthday post days later, Lopez’s 57th appears to be less about the number and more about the outlook. Her choice of the Roosevelt speech serves as a reminder that showing up, even imperfectly, matters more than watching from the sidelines. For an artist whose career has spanned decades of reinvention, the message feels fitting. Lopez is not just marking another year. She is framing it as one more lap in the arena, dust, sweat and all, still very much in the fight.

  • | |

    Eight bodies recovered after Broad Peak avalanche

    Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of eight mountaineers following the devastating avalanche on Broad Peak, while the search continues for two missing climbers. Another victim has been identified, but the body remains trapped in an area that rescuers have so far been unable to reach. Speaking to the media, the President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan described the incident as one of the deadliest accidents in the history of Broad Peak. He said a total of 11 climbers are believed to have been caught in the avalanche, triggering a large-scale rescue operation. He said the first phase of the operation began immediately after the incident. On the opening day, rescuers recovered the bodies of two climbers and also found partial human remains believed to belong to another victim. According to the Alpine Club, the first two recovered victims were a Nepalese mountaineer and a female climber from Oman. Rescue operations were carried out under extremely difficult weather and terrain conditions at high altitude. The Pakistan Army assisted the mission by providing helicopters to transport rescue teams and airlift the recovered bodies from the remote mountain. The aerial support played a key role in speeding up the recovery process. The Alpine Club president said that during the latest phase of the operation, the bodies of four Nepalese climbers and one Chinese mountaineer were successfully recovered and transported from the mountain. He added that rescuers have also identified another climber’s body. However, it is located in an inaccessible area, making immediate recovery impossible because of dangerous terrain and the continued risk of avalanches. Search teams are still looking for the remaining two missing climbers. Rescue officials said every effort is being made to locate them despite severe weather, snow-covered slopes and difficult mountain conditions. The tragedy has shocked Pakistan’s mountaineering community and highlighted the dangers faced by climbers attempting to scale some of the world’s highest peaks. Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram mountain range, is one of Pakistan’s tallest mountains and attracts climbers from around the world each year.

  • | | |

    Gold surges past Rs427,000 mark

    Gold prices moved higher in Pakistan on Thursday, tracking gains in the international bullion market. According to the latest market rates, the price of 24-karat gold per tola increased by Rs1,000, reaching Rs427,436. Meanwhile, the price of 10 grams of gold rose by Rs857 to Rs366,457. The upward trend followed a rise in global gold prices, where the precious metal gained $10 to trade at $4,050 per ounce, including the prevailing premium. In contrast, silver prices declined in the local market. The price of silver per tola fell by Rs76, settling at Rs6,215. Bullion traders said fluctuations in international prices continue to influence domestic gold rates, with local prices largely reflecting movements in the global market.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *