1- Two more Pak soldiers killed by Indian firing at LoC
Unprovoked Indian firing on Thursday killed another two Pakistan Army soldiers and wounded at least two civilians including a woman and a child along the border dividing the disputed territory of Kashmir, in the second such incident within two days.
Pakistani soldiers were killed “due to Indian troops unprovoked firing at the LoC on Thursday,” Pakistani officials said, adding, “Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing at the LoC in Rakhchakri sector near Rawlakot at 1150 hours Thursday.”
2- White elephant: ECC fails to decide fate of Steel Mills
The government couldn’t decide whether to sell the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) or to pump more money into the white elephant for fear of backlash from the main opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The Economic Coordination Committee – the top decision-making body on economic matters – failed to take a decision after the PPP threatened to mobilise a huge protest if the PSM was sold. The PPP has been blamed for the bankruptcy of the once profitable enterprise.
3- PML-N roars to victory
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday extended its winning streak in the country’s biggest ever by-elections, consolidating its grip on power.
The PML-N swept the country’s most populous province, Punjab – which is also its bastion – as it won 11 out of the 15 provincial assembly seats and bagged five out of the six National Assembly seats, according to unofficial results.
Similarly, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also cemented its position in their stronghold province of Sindh.
4- By-polls 2013: No real interest, but some real ballots
There seemed to be very little interest in the by-elections on Thursday as there were reports of a low turnout in polling stations across the country.
Political parties and candidates failed to mobilise voters in the federal capital as the city witnessed its first-ever by-election at one of its two National Assembly constituencies.
According to unofficial estimates, the turnout in NA-48’s 260 polling stations hovered around 30 per cent – just around half of the 59.5 per cent turnout polled in the constituency on general elections on May 11.
5- By-election 2013: Smooth voting amid bouts of disorder
A bomb scare disrupted polling in NA-262 (Qila Abdullah) and the Election Commission staff moved the polling station to an alternative place to restart balloting on Thursday.
Unknown men left two drums near the Haji Bakht Street and Shah Sawar polling stations during the voting. After rumours of bomb spread, the voting process was disrupted and restarted after three hours.
A contingent of Pakistan Army seized the drums and called its bomb disposal squad from Quetta. The bomb disposal squad checked the drums extensively and only found dust.
6- By-elections 2013: Voters not deterred by floods
In contrast to prevalent fears of the flood obstructing the by-election voting in Punjab and Sindh, the only constituency affected was Rajanpur’s PP-247.
Luckily, only four polling stations, namely Cikri 1, Cikri 2, Matkhund and Geelawala, were located in the flood-hit areas.
Voter turnout in these polling stations was around 40 per cent, whereas officials believe that the floods only caused a one-to-two percent decrease in the turnout.
A total of 8,100 votes were cast in these four polling stations. To facilitate voters, the government provided boats, which were regularly providing transport for people. Many voters had also made their own arrangements.
7- PML-N, PTI retain position despite setbacks
Despite setbacks in the biggest by-polls in the country’s history, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the two main rivals in the contest, made some gains, according to unofficial results.
The PTI lost on both seats vacated by Imran Khan after the May 11 general elections. In NA-1 Peshawar the PTI candidate Gul Badshah lost to Ghulam Ahmad Bilour of the Awami National Party, while in NA-71 Mianwali, the PTI’s Malik Wahid lost to the PML-N’s Obaidullah Shadikhel.
8- Reconstitution of NSC approved
The much-awaited meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) on Thursday decided to revive the National Security Committee (NSC) and reconstitute the DCC into the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS). It also made a conditional peace offer to the militants that a dialogue would only be held if they disarmed, otherwise force would be used against them.
9- No pre-conditions for talks with Taliban: govt
Information Minister and government spokesman Pervez Rashid has categorically said that the government has set no pre-condition for holding a dialogue with extremists, including the proscribed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
“The dialogue offer announced by the prime minister had no pre-conditions attached and it remains so even today,” the information minister told The News here on Thursday.
10- New National Security Committee: new name for old body
There is no major change in the composition of the new key body, the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS), which has replaced the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC). The DCC was headed by the prime minister and so does the new forum.
11- Those who prevent women from voting to face action: ECP
The Election Commission Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed Khan has said action would be taken against those found involved in stopping women from casting votes after receiving solid evidences.
