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The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has withdrawn the schedule for the by-election being held on the Senate seat associated with Murad Saeed following his disqualification.

According to the Election Commission, Murad Saeed had never taken the oath as a senator and therefore had not formally assumed membership of the Senate. As a result, no Senate seat became vacant following his disqualification.

The ECP accepted an application filed by PML-N MPA Jalal Khan and stopped the by-election process. The commission also withdrew the schedule issued for the Senate by-election.

The Election Commission issued a detailed decision on the application filed by Jalal Khan.

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During the hearing before the ECP, the lawyer representing Jalal Khan argued that Murad Saeed had not taken the oath. He questioned how a seat could become vacant when the member had never taken the oath.

The applicant’s lawyer requested that the election on the Senate’s vacant seat be postponed.

Murad Saeed had previously been declared disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) after receiving a 10-year sentence from an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, following which his Senate seat was declared vacant.

Tahira Habib Jalib, daughter of renowned revolutionary poet Habib Jalib, has claimed that she was offered Rs5,000 per week to run her roadside dhaba without interference.

Despite rising inflation and difficult circumstances, Tahira Habib Jalib sought to earn a respectable livelihood through her own hard work rather than asking anyone for financial help. After finding that teaching driving from her car did not leave her with any savings, she decided to start a mobile dhaba in her vehicle.

For the venture, she purchased utensils and other equipment on credit. However, she said the district administration and local mafia did not allow her to work peacefully even for a single day.

Speaking exclusively to ARY News, Tahira Habib Jalib said she wanted to earn a lawful livelihood rather than beg or ask anyone for help, while maintaining the dignity of being Habib Jalib’s daughter.

According to her, several people came to her dhaba on the evening of its first day and, in a threatening tone, told her that “Maryam Nawaz has ordered” that no dhaba could be set up there.

She said some other individuals subsequently suggested that she quietly pay Rs5,000 per week, after which no one would interfere with her.

Also Read: Bilawal Says Real Battle Is Between Islamabad and Lahore, Not PPP and PML-N

Tahira Habib Jalib said she had formally submitted applications to the town and deputy commissioner’s offices on June 3 seeking legal permission to operate the dhaba. However, she said that despite months passing, the relevant authorities had neither paid attention to her applications nor provided her with a model cart or cabin.

She said that after the incident triggered activity at the media and district administration levels, including calls from the commissioner and deputy commissioner, she made it clear that she no longer needed any assistance or favour from the administration.

She questioned why politicians and people read Habib Jalib’s poetry with such enthusiasm but never seek permission from his family to read it.

“Today, I am being asked why I did not seek permission to work,” she said, questioning whether people in the country would also need permission to walk, breathe and live.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, met him at Adiala Jail, while Aleema Khan said that relief for the PTI founder could only be provided by the courts.

After meeting Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, Noreen Niazi returned to the factory checkpoint. She did not respond to questions from media representatives and party workers and left without speaking to them.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan said that Imran Khan had still not been allowed to speak to his children, calling it contempt of court. She also said that she and Dr Uzma had not been allowed to meet him, which she described as another instance of contempt of court.

Aleema Khan said they were following court orders and questioned what the government was afraid of. She said they were not making any statements contrary to court orders, while Dr Uzma and Dr Faisal had spoken about what had happened to them.

She said they would themselves approach the court and tell it how pleased they had been because of its decision.

Also Read: Security Situation Made Shifa Hospital Transfer of PTI Founder Impossible, Says Tariq Fazal Chaudhry

Aleema Khan said people were saying that it was a relief that the courts were trying to provide justice. She said people were happy with the judges because the statements made by the judges were in accordance with the law.

“If the courts do not provide justice, people will lose confidence,” she said, adding that the courts had to provide relief to the PTI founder and that their hope rested with the judiciary.

She further said that by not following the court’s order, the government was indicating that it did not accept the courts. Aleema Khan said they stood with judges who provided justice and urged all Pakistanis to stand with their courts.

Aleema Khan also said that journalists were committing contempt of court by asking questions after meeting the PTI founder.

ISLAMABAD: The joint opposition held its first parliamentary meeting, bringing together leaders and parliamentary representatives of opposition parties to discuss a coordinated strategy on political, economic, security and judicial matters.

The meeting was followed by a joint press conference in which opposition leaders described the formation of a unified opposition as an important step towards addressing the country’s political and economic challenges.

Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai said opposition members had reached consensus on a single point despite what he described as an atmosphere of political suffocation.

“Today is a day of happiness and congratulations,” Achakzai said, expressing hope that the alliance would play a significant role in restoring Pakistan’s lost stature.

He said political forces must work to address the problems facing ordinary citizens, particularly those struggling to secure food and employment. He also prayed for the strength to help steer the country out of its current difficulties.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed the establishment of the joint opposition an important development, saying parties sitting on the opposition benches had decided to work together as a unified opposition.

Expressing concern over the country’s security situation, Fazlur Rehman said the nation was witnessing bloodshed while rulers were walking on “red carpets.” He warned that deterioration in law and order would have a serious impact on the economy.

Referring to India’s economic progress, he said Pakistan needed to reassess its national priorities and formulate policies aimed at strengthening the country’s economy.

Fazlur Rehman also raised questions about Pakistan’s standing in international judicial rankings and called for improvements in the justice system.

Also Read: Security Situation Made Shifa Hospital Transfer of PTI Founder Impossible, Says Tariq Fazal Chaudhry

He opposed proposals for dividing provinces, saying the move could further deepen mistrust among the people. He also referred to the situation in Kashmir and called for a political solution to the country’s prevailing challenges.

The JUI-F chief called for improving the political environment and releasing political prisoners. He described the joint opposition’s first meeting and its demands as the first step in a broader political journey, pledging that opposition parties would work for political stability and peace.

Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also welcomed the formation of the alliance, describing it as a positive development.

He expressed concern over increasing lawlessness, saying people were increasingly feeling insecure and that the safety of their lives and property could not be guaranteed.

Nasir Abbas also alleged that the sanctity of homes and the dignity and honour of citizens were being violated. Referring to the alleged killing of Hina Javed, he said such incidents reflected growing insecurity in society.

He also raised concerns about the situation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Dr Yasmin Rashid and criticised what he described as the treatment being meted out to her.

Speaking about PTI founder Imran Khan, Nasir Abbas claimed that the Supreme Court had ordered his transfer to Shifa International Hospital but that the order had not been implemented.

The opposition leaders reiterated their commitment to working together in parliament and adopting a unified strategy on matters concerning the public, as well as political, economic and constitutional issues.

They said the joint opposition would continue to raise a collective voice in parliament and seek political stability, peace and solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.

GWADAR: A case has been registered against Balochistan MPA and Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan chief Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman over allegations of interfering with security personnel at a checkpoint in Gwadar and allegedly misbehaving with officials.

According to police, the case was registered at City Gwadar Police Station on the complaint of a citizen, Fida Hakeem Rind. The FIR invokes Sections 353, 186, 503, 504, 505 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR states that an incident allegedly took place near the 15-C security checkpoint on Pushkan Road, footage of which subsequently circulated on social media.

According to the contents of the FIR, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman allegedly interfered with security personnel while they were performing their duties and behaved inappropriately with the officials.

The complaint also alleges that the provincial Jamaat-e-Islami leader used offensive language against security institutions.

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Police further alleged that the FIR includes accusations that Hidayat-ur-Rehman attempted to create hatred and incite public sentiment against security institutions.

According to police, the case was registered on the basis of video footage related to the incident and other available evidence.

Police said an investigation is underway and that all aspects of the incident will be examined. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman has not yet publicly responded to the allegations contained in the FIR.

Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, has questioned British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband over what she described as the UK government’s silence on the treatment of the former Pakistani premier.

In a statement posted on X on Monday, Goldsmith alleged that Imran Khan has been held in solitary confinement for an extended period and has been denied regular contact with his family.

“Three years of increasingly punitive treatment” have been imposed on the father of her two sons and Pakistan’s former prime minister, Goldsmith claimed, alleging that the conditions of his detention amount to treatment comparable to torture and could have serious consequences for his physical and mental health.

She alleged that Khan has spent three years in solitary confinement and has been denied access to family visits, books, lawyers and doctors for around 10 months.

Goldsmith cited the United Nations’ Nelson Mandela Rules, which state that prolonged solitary confinement exceeding 15 consecutive days is prohibited and may constitute torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

She also referred to recent Supreme Court orders concerning Khan’s medical treatment and access to his family, alleging that the directives have not been implemented.

According to Goldsmith, the Supreme Court ordered that Khan be provided comprehensive medical care, access to his personal physician, regular meetings with family members and telephone contact with his sons twice a week.

Khan was briefly transferred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad last week for a medical examination before being moved back to Adiala Jail. His family and lawyers objected to the transfer, saying that under the court’s order he was supposed to be taken to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.

Also Read: Islamabad Chief Commissioner Seeks Early Hearing of Review Plea Against Imran Khan Hospital Transfer Order

Goldsmith argued that the matter could no longer be viewed merely as a Pakistani political dispute, describing it instead as a “serious human rights situation.”

She also highlighted Khan’s longstanding links with Britain, noting that he studied at Oxford University, captained the university’s cricket team and played county cricket in England.

Goldsmith further referred to Khan’s philanthropic work in Pakistan, including the establishment of a cancer hospital and a university.

She said her two sons with Khan, Sulaiman and Qasim, are British citizens and have been unable to visit their father.

Goldsmith’s comments come as Khan remains incarcerated in Pakistan amid multiple legal cases. The allegations regarding his detention conditions and the implementation of court orders remain contested, with the relevant authorities yet to publicly respond to all of the claims outlined in her statement.