PML-N to sweep general elections: Nawaz

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said he was sure of his party’s outstanding victory in the upcoming general elections. Addressing a public rally at Government High School Mailsi, he said the country faced complicated problems including severe shortages of gas and electricity while consumers were still bound to pay utility bills.
He also said that fertilizers and pesticides had become very costly making it difficult for the common man to earn his bread in the present economic environment. He cited the rapid deterioration of national institutions such as PIA and Pakistan Railways due to corruption and gross mismanagement of the government, which, he said, had nothing to do with national interests but was busy amassing personal wealth in the name of democracy and rule of law. He expressed a strong resolve that PML-N would win the forthcoming elections and undertake its responsibility for restructuring of a new and prosperous Pakistan. He also talked about PML-N’s sweeping victory in the recent by-elections saying that “the by-polls were a trailer and the movie was yet to come”. On the situation in Balochistan, he said the people there were patriotic and maintained that the problems could not be resolved through use of brute force. He said a dialogue with the Baloch was necessary and eventually they should be made part of the national mainstream. He announced to set up agriculture and engineering universities in Mailsi.

‘N’ wants NADRA’s control to be given to ECP, Cabinet Division

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has demanded the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) be given under the control of the Election Commission or the Cabinet Division so that it can be ensured that voters’ lists are error free and the elections are held in a free and transparent manner. The Senate Special Committee on Elections has decided to send its recommendations that NADRA be taken out of the control of the Interior Ministry. The election commission secretary and the NADRA chairman have welcomed the demand. The committee observed that there were massive mistakes in the electoral rolls and elections were not possible without removing them. It said if need be, the committee would give its recommendations for amendments in the constitution and electoral laws. The issues emerged when a delegation of senators, led by Senator Ishaq Dar, visited NADRA Headquarters on Thursday for a briefing on the citizens’ registration and electoral rolls preparation process. NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik said since 2002, NADRA had registered over 92.9 million Pakistanis and issued them CNICs, covering 96 percent of the adult population. He said upon parliaments’ directions, NADRA assisted the Election Commission with the preparation of the electoral rolls.