Pakistan presidential election on Tuesday, PTI candidate likely to win

Pakistani lawmakers are set to choose a new President on Tuesday, an election in which the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party's candidate Arif Alvi is expected to win as the Opposition parties failed to field a joint candidate.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday completed preparations for the election. Polling stations have been set up in all four provincial assemblies in addition to the National Assembly. Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan will serve as the Returning Officer.

Outgoing President Mamnoon Hussain's tenure ends on September 8. He had declined for re-election to a second 5-year term.

Apart from Alvi, the Pakistan Peoples Party's Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and Jamiat-e-Ulema (F) chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman are also in the race.

Alvi is a Karachi-based dentist-turned-politician, who reportedly stood by prime minister Imran Khan during his political career.

Terrorism not invoked during Pompeo-Imran call, correct readout: Pak to US

In an unusual move, Pakistan on Thursday asked the US to "immediately correct" a readout issued by the State Department in which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was quoted as saying that he asked Pakistan's new Prime Minister to take "decisive action" against all terrorists operating in the country.

State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement that Pompeo, in his talks with Khan, raised the importance of Pakistan taking "decisive action" against all terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting the Afghan peace process.

However, according to the Foreign Office (FO), Pompeo congratulated Khan while discussing other issues of interest and there was no mention of "terrorists operating in Pakistan".

FO spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that "Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by US State Department on today's phone call between Prime Minister Khan and Secretary Pompeo".

Want to play 'constructive' role to improve India-Pakistan ties: China

China on Wednesday said it was willing to play a "constructive" role in improving ties between India and Pakistan and hailed the outreach by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan to improve bilateral relations.

However, Beijing did not specify what it meant by "constructive" role.

"We welcome the positive remarks made by the Indian and Pakistani leaders on improving the bilateral relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said.

"As a common neighbour to Pakistan and India, China firmly supports the two sides to enhance dialogue and increase mutual trust and properly handle and solve their difference. And we hope that they can jointly stay committed to the regional peace and development. China is willing to play a constructive role in this aspect," Lu added.

Pakistan parliament forms body to probe allegations against Imran Khan

Pakistan parliament adopted a motion on Friday to form a committee which will probe the harassment allegations against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan.

On Tuesday, National Assembly Member Ayesha Gulalai left the PTI claiming that women affiliated with the party faced constant harassment in the party. She accused the PTI chief of sending her lewd text messages.

The motion was presented by lawmaker Arifa Khalid Parvez and accepted by the house.

Speaking on the matter, Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi said it affected the integrity of the house and the issue of harassment should be taken seriously.

He said the Inspector General of Punjab had been ordered to provide security to Gulalai, who was receiving threats following her disclosures against the PTI chief.

"Both the PTI chief and Gulalai are respectable personalities; therefore, a committee should be formed to probe the allegations," Abbasi said in his speech.

PTI lawmaker Shireen Mazari rejected the Prime Minister's suggestion and said that, instead of Imran Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khuwaja Asif should be probed for abusing her in the house.
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Pakistan ATC orders seizure of Imran Khan, Qadri's assets in terrorism case

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Friday issued orders to confiscate the properties and assets of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri for repeatedly failing to appear in hearings of terrorism cases registered against them.

The order has been subsequently sent to relevant police stations and revenue boards for implementation.

Earlier in February, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Islamabad on Friday issued perpetual warrants of arrest against chief Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri in the case related to an attack on a senior police officer during the 2014 sit-ins.

With the permission of court, the police initiated proceedings under section 87- for the proclamation for person absconding- of the Criminal Procedure Code against Khan and Qadri, as they did not appear before the court in the case.

On Sept 1, 2014 during the sit-ins, Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Asmatullah Janjejo was beaten up by protestors on Constitution Avenue on his first day on the job as SSP Operations of the capital police.

The secretariat police had registered a case against several PTI and PAT workers for their alleged involvement in vandalism and attacking SSP Junejo.
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