Rana Sanaullah rejects PPP claim over AJK worker?…

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that the groups holding sit-ins had attempted to disrupt the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections but failed to achieve their objective. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Rana Sanaullah said the people of Azad Kashmir had exercised their right to vote and given a mandate to their chosen representatives. He said the process of government formation in Azad Kashmir would begin after the completion of the third phase of the elections. Rana Sanaullah expressed hope that the groups staging protests would now recognise the situation and end their sit-ins. He said the government was willing to review the legitimate demands of the protesters. However, he warned that individuals who take up arms or act against the state would have to face legal action. The adviser also rejected allegations of widespread election rigging. He said those making such claims had so far failed to present evidence to support their allegations. Rana Sanaullah accused the Pakistan Peoples Party of using allegations of rigging to cover up what he described as its electoral defeat. He said the PPP was still raising concerns about alleged rigging, but the intensity of its claims had decreased compared with earlier stages of the election. He expressed hope that PPP leaders would eventually accept the results and congratulate the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on its performance. Polling in the third phase of the Azad Kashmir elections was continuing, while authorities reported that the overall voting process remained peaceful. Rana Sanaullah said elements that had attempted to prevent people from casting their votes had failed in their efforts. He maintained that voters were freely exercising their democratic right and choosing their representatives through the ballot. The prime minister’s adviser also expressed confidence about the formation of the next government in Azad Kashmir. He claimed that the results available so far indicated that the PML-N was on course to form the government with a two-thirds majority. Rana Sanaullah described the elections as free, fair and transparent. He said the democratic process had allowed the people of Azad Kashmir to give a clear mandate to their representatives. He added that the government would focus on addressing public issues after the elections. According to Rana Sanaullah, the completion of the third phase will pave the way for the formal process of government formation in Azad Kashmir. The remarks came amid political tensions surrounding the elections and protests. The government has repeatedly called for the continuation of the democratic process, while opposition groups have raised concerns over the conduct of the polls.

British-Pakistani filmmaker Seemab Gul’s award-winning film Ghost School has been denied certification by the Sindh Board of Certification, preventing its theatrical release in the province where the film is set. The decision has sparked discussion about artistic expression, girls’ education and the portrayal of social issues through cinema. Gul has appealed to the Sindh Board to reconsider its decision. She said the film was made from a child’s perspective and aims to encourage audiences to think about education and the challenges faced by children. The filmmaker said she had asked the board to explain the reason for refusing certification but had not received an explanation. Despite the decision in Sindh, Ghost School has already gained recognition at several international film festivals. The film won the Best Director award at the UK Asian Film Festival. It also premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received a nomination in a major competition category. It was later screened at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah. The film also received an honourable mention at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and secured a special award at the Asian, African and Latin American Film Festival. The film follows 10-year-old Rabia, who tries to understand why the only school in her rural village has stopped operating. Through the young girl’s journey, the story examines barriers to girls’ education, resilience and problems within publicly funded schools. The film focuses on the issue of so-called “ghost schools”. These are schools that exist officially but are no longer functioning properly as educational institutions. Gul explained that some such schools were never fully completed. They may lack basic facilities such as doors, windows, water, electricity or gas. In other cases, she said, schools were completed and teachers initially worked there, but operations eventually stopped. The filmmaker described the issue as a serious challenge in Pakistan, where millions of children remain outside the formal education system. Gul said the film was not intended simply to highlight a problem. Instead, she wanted to tell the story through a child’s eyes and encourage discussion about access to education. The refusal to certify the film in Sindh has therefore raised broader questions about whether filmmakers should be able to explore sensitive social issues through cinema. Gul has urged the provincial certification authority to review its decision and allow audiences to watch the film.