Blaze News - Pakistan

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi delivered a resolute message on Friday to his critics, both within and outside the ranks of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He emphasized that any attempts to sow discord between him and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were bound to falter. Naqvi underscored in his statement that his bond with the prime minister extended back over 25 years, portraying Shehbaz not only as a mentor but also a cherished friend. Personally, the minister expressed a preference for nurturing personal connections over acquiring governmental positions. “To those who seek to sow seeds of division between us, their efforts are futile. Ministries hold no significance for me compared to the depth of our relationship,” the statement quoted the minister as affirming. “My association with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif spans a quarter-century, and he is akin to an elder brother to me.” Naqvi’s response came after various statements, both publically and privately, from PML-...

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday dispatched a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), urging them to take the essential measures to invite international observers to monitor the transparency of the upcoming general elections, which are scheduled to take place in the last week of January 2024. This decision to seek international observers comes in response to the European Union's previous announcement that it will not be sending an election observer mission to Pakistan for the forthcoming parliamentary polls. Michael Gahler, member of the EU Parliament, had told a group of Pakistani journalists visiting Brussels in July this year that the EU’s decision was based on certain internal constraints as well as a non-invitation from Islamabad by then. Gahler, who had led the EU's observer missions to Pakistan for the past three elections held in 2008, 2013, and 2018, revealed the decision. However, he emphasized that the destiny of any political party or l...