BAKU (Azerbaijan), April 7(APP)::Azerbaijan is all set to hold presidential election in a free, fair and transparent manner on April 11 (Wednesday) with registration of eight candidates contesting for the slot including incumbent President Ilham Aliyev.
Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party is ruling the country since 2003 and if wins again, he will become the president for next seven years.
The Election Commission of Azerbaijan has established around 5641 polling stations that will operate in the presidential elections. Of the total, 5,426 are permanent and 215 are temporary polling stations, set-up countrywide.
The authorities concerned have also established 41 polling stations outside Azerbaijan for the presidential election and as many as 13,820 voters are expected to cast their vote in these polling stations.
In order to ensure transparency in election, installation of web cams has also been made in many polling stations. It has been reported that monitoring of election process via web cameras was started about 10 years ago in Azerbaijan. Whereas for the first time, 500 cameras were installed for the elections, afterwards the number of these devices was increased to 1000. The target is to create an opportunity to watch the election process live in 20 percent of the polling stations. Cameras are installed with possibility to watch what is going on inside the station until the polling stations are closed.
Meanwhile, it has been further reported that Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited 871 international observers including journalists to monitor the presidential election in the country. They are citizens of 59 countries and represent 58 international organizations.
Around 56,864 local observers have been accredited so far, and 1,962 of them were accredited by the CEC and will monitor the election throughout the country and 54,902 observers have the right to observe the elect within the limits of the relevant constituency. Moreover, 5,099 members who have consultative voting rights were appointed to the lower election commissions by political parties.
During visit to different polling stations on Saturday, it has been found that elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure transparency in voting process.
Talking to APP, the representatives of Election Commission, Lala Alieva, Sevinj Mahammadova and Kadija said the the polling would start at 8.00 a.m and will end at 7.00 p.m. More than 5,000 thousands votes from the polling stations locality have been registered and they expressed the hope of more than 80 per cent turn out.
They further said police personnel would be deployed outside these polling stations to ensure security. The election commission representatives also mentioned about a special chemical and laser light gadget to curb any chance of fraudulant activity.
The other candidates contesing the presidential election are Razi Nurullayev – political analyst, former deputy chairman of Azerbaijani Popular Front Party.
Sardar Jalaloglu – politician, chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Party. Previously ran for president in 2013.
Zahid Oruc – member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan since 2001. Former deputy chairman of Motherland Party. Ran for president in 2013 and placed 5th.
Hafiz Hajiyev – chairman of the Modern Equality Party, previously participated in the 2003, 2008 and 2013 elections.
Gudrat Hasanguliyev – member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, chairman of the Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party. Previously participated in the 2003, 2008 and 2013 elections.
Araz Alizada – member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan. Previously participated in the 2013 presidential elections and finished seventh.
Faraj Guliyev – member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, chairman of the National Revival Movement Party. Previously participated in the 2013 presidential elections and finished eighth.
Azerbaijan all set to hold presidential election Wednesday amid eight contesting candidates
Restoration of peace in the country has revived cultural and sports activities: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Apr 7 (APP):Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb, addressing the inaugural ceremony of Islamabad Spring Festival ( Family Gala ) here Saturday, said that as a result of the efforts of the government in line with the vision of the former prime minister the menace of terrorism had been controlled and peace restored in the country, leading to the return of the hustle and bustle of the sports fields and tourists spots, besides revival of the cultural activities.
She said that positive identity of the country could be projected through the promotion of national culture, film industry and international sports. She said that the holding of such Galas and international film festivals, revival of international cricket and visit to Pakistan by foreign teams was a testimony to the restoration of peace and security in the country.
Marriyum said that the difference in Pakistan of 2013 and of today was quite visible as due to the prudent policies pursued by the government the energy crisis and terrorism had been surmounted. She said that the tourist destinations of Pakistan were its real identity and every Pakistani wished to see them rehabilitated as usual.
She appreciated the personal efforts of the interior minister, district administration Islamabad and police for organizing the festival in a well disciplined manner for the citizens of the twin cities and also congratulated them for that wonderful effort.
Marriyum said that the holding of such festivals reflected true culture and civilization of Pakistan. She revealed that the spring festival would be held in Islamabad every year in addition to different recreational activities for the people.
She said that the media by promoting these activities highlighted the real identity of Pakistan in the world.
The minister said that the spring festival would include musical concerts, mystic night, chrysanthemum, poetic gatherings, different competitions and a number of colourful programmes for children women and families. She said that a large number of families and children from the twin cities had come to the festival and were enjoying the event because after a long interval such a beautiful event had been arranged in Islamabad under the open skies.
The minister after inaugurating the festival also witnessed different performances with regard to the inauguration ceremony.
US-Pakistan ties should be based on mutual respect: Ambassador
WASHINGTON, April 7 (APP):Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Chaudhry has said that relations between Islamabad and Washington should be based on mutual respect and trust to achieve the common goals of defeating terrorism, and securing peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He made these remarks while speaking with Pakistani and US media at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington to highlight the ongoing Indian atrocities in the occupied Kashmir on the occasion of the Kashmir Solidarity Day. He was responding to questions about the current state of Pak-US relations.
Emphasizing the need for relations based on mutual respect, Ambassador Chaudhry said apprehensions and concerns would not serve the purpose because it would be counterproductive for both Pakistan and the United States with regard to counter-terrorism operations, and quest for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He expressed Pakistan’s firm commitment not to allow its soil to be used against any country and said that it expected others to reciprocate.
Ambassador Chaudhry said that Pakistan supported all efforts for reconciliation to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. He said that there was no military solution to the Afghan problem and all efforts should be directed towards a comprehensive “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned” political solution.
Responding to the question related to Haqqanis, Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry said Pakistan’s message to the Haqqanis and Talibans was very clear. Talibans and Haqqanis were Afghanis and they should become part of the political mainstream in Afghanistan, he added.
Speaking about the recent escalation in violence in the occupied Kashmir by Indian occupation forces especially since April 1, when Indian forces killed 20 Kashmiri youth in southern Kashmir, he said that Indian forces had unleashed a new reign of terror resulting in extra-judicial killings, pre-dawn attacks and fake encounters.
He said that civilian protests against the killing of innocent Kashmiri youth had been met with brutal force by Indian forces. Among other, draconian measures, Indian forces had also used pellets guns blinding innocent protestors like in 2016, he added.
Ambassador Chaudhry said that Pakistan strongly condemned the horrific draconian steps and urged the international community, including the United States, to break its silence on the recent spate of violence in the Indian occupied Kashmir.
NBF festival attracts families, children on 2nd day
ISLAMABAD, Apr 07 (APP):The colourful book-oriented activities of the mega National Book Festival at Pak-China Friendship Center entered its second day of festivities and continues to allure huge number of families and children.
The festival, being arranged by National Book Foundation (NBF),
was inaugurated by President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday in presence of Advisor to PM on National History and literary Heritage (NH&LH), Irfan Siddiqui, Managing Director, NBF, Dr. Inam-ul-Haq Javed and a large number of writers from across the country and Turkey, China and Iran.
A large number of families, especially children thronged the venue
on Saturday, despite warm weather, and took part in the different colourful programmes which were especially arranged for them.
The visitors took round of the around 132 book stalls, set up by 110
private publishers and NBF and purchased variety of books on discounted rates.
The book launching ceremonies, book reading sessions, Book Ambassador Conferences, book launching ceremonies, colourful programmes for children and discussion programmes with renowned writers, were the hallmark of the festival.
A large number of families were seen in the auditorium where special activitiesfor children were arranged especially art workshops, Face Painting, toys and children book stalls, Gogi show, Kids Republic and many other attractions.
Fatima, a young girl said, “Gogi show was the activity which I enjoyed the most. The activities for children are really well organized and interesting.”
Talking to APP, she said, “Such activities are like a source of comfort for the students which refresh them during their tough study routine”.
Managing Director, NBF, Dr. Inam-ul-Haq Javed said, “the four-day
festival has received over-whelming response from the students, children and families.”
“Though it is the annual feature, but this year’s visitors’ enthusiasm is worth seeing”, he added.
He said, the objective behind arranging National Book Festival was
to promote book reading culture among people especially youth which is the mandate of the Foundation.
He said NBF will continue its efforts toward creating a tolerant
and knowledgeable society and promoting soft image of the country
through arranging such activities.
PM ask critics of ‘revolutionary tax reforms’ to first make their tax details public
KHARAN, Apr 7 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Saturday said the recently announced ‘revolutionary tax reforms’ would bring in record resources to the national economy and lead the country to self-dependence and those, criticizing the initiative, should first make their last year’s tax details public.
Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating Khuzdar-Shahdadkot Road and launching work on Kharan-Yakmach road here, the prime minister said the tax reforms would make the people join the course of national development by paying taxes and proving their patriotism.
He was accompanied by federal ministers Lt. Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and Hafiz Abdul Karim, and the National Highway Authority Chairman, who also briefed the prime minister on importance and scope of the projects.
“There is no room for criticism on it… I question them as what they are criticizing for over reduction of tax rates?” he asked the opponents.
The prime minister, who earlier unveiled the plaques of two mega projects worth Rs 25 billion along with Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and the federal ministers, said the critics would meet their political fate if they told the masses that they were opposing the initiative of reducing tax rates and making people prove their patriotism by supporting the government in running the state affairs.
He said previous governments always increased tax rates but it was the PML-N government that reduced the same by more than the half. It had been experimented worldwide that people do not pay 36 percent taxes and when resourceful people evade taxes, the poor have to bear the brunt in the form of indirect taxation on daily use commodities.
He said the tax reforms were meant to shift burden of indirect taxes from the poor to those, who were not paying taxes despite earning millions.
Apprising the gathering about his Friday’s visit to Kabul, the prime minister said that they discussed thoroughly the Afghan issue with local leadership and told them that no country desired peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan.
He said military solution failed to resolve the issue during the last thirty years. The solution lied only in dialogue among all Afghan stakeholders and Pakistan would extend all out support to the process as an obligation.
He hoped that if the Afghan side also showed the sincerity like Pakistan, peace could be restored in that country.
:Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the democracy would flourish and the country would progress if the people elect a sincere leadership in next July election.
He said the PML-N government executed record development works across the country and questioned as to why the previous political and dictatorial governments failed to carry out development projects despite having same resources.
He said currently around 1500-kilometer long roads were being constructed in Balochistan, besides thousands of kilometers long others, which had been completed.
He said both Khuzdar-Shahdadkot and Kaharan-Yakmach road projects would cost Rs 25 billion and facilitate the people travelling from Iran, thus increasing the economic activity.
Khuzdar-Shahdadkot road provides link between Balochistan and Sindh, passing through Wango hills. The cargo transport moving from Gwadar to Sindh will be able to use this road that will be completed at the cost of around Rs 15 billion.
The 200-kilometer Kaharan-Yakmach section connects three important districts of Chaghi, Washuk and Kharan. This is the closest link with Iranian border via N-25 and the project will reduce the distance by 250 kilometers.
The project will accelerate the economic activity in the mineral-rich districts as it will ease the transportation of the minerals from Chaghi to Karachi, particularly from Reko Diq. After its completion, the highway could be used by 3,000 vehicles daily with a set speed of 90 kilometers per hour.
The prime minister said both the projects would prove a landmark for the province’s development as road infrastructure was inevitable for development.
He said the minerals of the resource-rich Balochistan would not benefit the locals if they were not explored. The exploration required peace, infrastructure and public share, he added.
He said Balochistan would become the richest province of the country but it required a government duly representing the public.
The prime minister said consequent to political unity and bravery shown by the security forces, peace had been restored from Karachi to Peshawar and Quetta to Lahore and people were leading peaceful life.
The prime minister agreed to the demand of Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch for construction of Nok Kundi-Mashkehl and Kharan-Basima roads on priority. He said as committed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, LPG-air mix plants were being established in every district of the province.
He also announced an additional Rs 300 million for a solarization project besides committing the construction of a stadium and launch of BISP and health card schemes in the area after completion of poverty survey.
He told the gathering that in July election, they would have to chose either the politics of truth and service or that of falsity and abuses.
Referring to the Senate election, the prime minister said a party leader had alleged another party leader of buying his 14 Senators but they were found to be supporting each other in the election of Senate chairman.
He hoped that as the politics of negativity had failed to attract public applause, the PML-N would obtain even more seats than the past in next general election.
US Cornell University call on COAS
RAWALPINDI, Apr 07 (APP):A group of students from US Cornell University met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa during their visit to Pakistan. Students shared experience of their first ever visit to Pakistan and seeing Pakistan as a beautiful and peaceful country, said a statement issued here by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Students visited Lahore, Hunza valley, Remount Depot Mona and Islamabad during the visit.
The COAS shared his thoughts about Pakistan and its ongoing journey to enduring peace. He said that the youth had an important role to play in every field as they were the future leadership.
Referring to vibrant youth of Pakistan, the COAS credited successes in the war against terror to the bravery and motivation of the junior leadership, besides their contributions to national progress on the whole as part of the nation.
The students thanked the Army Chief and said that they were taking back home the first hand reality about peaceful and beautiful Pakistan.
Korean ambassador calls on Shehbaz Sharif
LAHORE, Apr 07 (APP):Korean Ambassador Mr. Kwak Sung Kyu
called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz here on Saturday and discussed matters of mutual interest including promotion of Pak-Korea ties and enhancement of cooperation in various fields.
The Korean ambassador, while praising the vision of the
chief minister for progress and prosperity of the people, said
that Shehbaz Sharif had worked in an extraordinary manner for
the people of your province, and deserve tribute.
He said that Shehbaz Sharif-led provincial government
had completed several important projects and the development
and progress of Punjab was being quoted everywhere.
About the situation in the occupied Kashmir, the Korean
ambassador said, “We hold sentiments of sympathy for the people
of the occupied Kashmir and the international community should
focus on the Kashmir issue”.
Talking to the Korean ambassador, Shehbaz Sharif said
that Pakistan and Korea enjoy excellent ties and Korea had
made speedy progress in a short time due to the vision of
its leadership, and development of Korea was a role model.
He said several companies of Korea were working in Punjab
as the Punjab government provides excellent facilities to
foreign investors, adding that every sort of cooperation
would be provided to the companies of Korea working in
various fields.
The chief minister said: “We want to further promote
economic and trade ties with Korea and want to benefit from
technical skills of Korea in various fields”. He said the
brutalities inflicted on the defenceless people of the
occupied Kashmir by the Indian forces are strongly condemnable.
He said that India had crossed all limits of state
terrorism and the international community should wake up
to take notice of brutalities of India in the occupied Kashmir.
The chief minister congratulated the Korean envoy for
taking charge of new assignment in Pakistan and conveyed
good wishes to him.
Provincial ministers Sheikh Alluddin, Rana Mashhood
Ahmed, Senator Saleem zia, senior officials of the Punjab
investment board and concerning officials were also present
on the occasion.
Khurram meets Iranian Defence Minister
ISLAMABAD, Apr 7 (APP):Minister for Defence Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan Saturday met with Iranian Defence Minister General
Amir Hatami in delegation-level talks on the sidelines of the Moscow Security Conference in the Russian capital.
Both Ministers discussed aims, shared by Pakistan and Iran bilaterally as well as internationally, such as
better management of the border, sustainable peace in Afghanistan, stabilizing the Middle East, and violence
perpetrated on Muslims in Palestine, Syria, and Indian Occupied Kashmir, said a press release received here.
The Ministers expressed a shared concern about presence of ISIS in Afghanistan.
Khurram Dastgir Khan observed that Pak-Iran relations have improved substantively since 2014,
when former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Teheran, followed by reciprocal visits in 2016
and 2017 by President of Iran Hassan Rouhani.
The Ministers reviewed the positive developments since the recent respective visits to Teheran by
Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanvir, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Bajwa, and
National Security Adviser Gen. (R) Nasir Janjua.
United Nations Undersecretary General for Counterterrorism Vladimir Voronkov and Chairman of the
International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer also called on Minister for Defence Khurram
Dastgir Khan on sidelines of the Moscow Security Conference.
Both dignitaries commended Pakistan’s unprecedented success in eliminating terrorism form its oil
and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s vision of forestalling extremism through youth-employment
schemes.
Defence Minister suggested to Chairman ICRC the physical rehabilitation of civilian victims of terrorism
as a productive project for ICRC to undertake extensively in Pakistan.
Businessmen Panel demands cut in prices of locally made cars
LAHORE, Apr 07 (APP):Businessmen Panel (BMP) Punjab’s Secretary General Mian Usman Zulfiqar Saturday urged the government to announce special slab to reduce the prices of locally assembled cars in the upcoming budget to facilitate the masses.
Usman Zulfiqar, in a statement here, said it was totally unjustified that local manufactures revised their car prices whenever they desired and without even getting approval. The Ministry of Industries must devise a mechanism to regulate the local assemblers’ prices, he added.
He suggested some tax measures to reduce the cost of locally produced vehicles and make the same more affordable. By exempting the imports made under SRO 655(I)/2006 and SRO 656(I)/2006 from additional customs duty under SRO 1178(I)/2015, the government could help reduce the cost of vehicles being produced locally, he added.
Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta to be brought on a par with Lahore: Shehbaz
LAHORE, Apr 07 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said if Allah Almighty gave Pakistan Muslim League-N another chance to form the next government, it would establish records of prosperity and progress in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta would be bring on a par with Lahore.
He said: “Pakistan is home to us all and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab are four federating units combined in a string, and Azad Kashmir is also part of it, and the country would make progress when all of its federating units will progress”.
CM Shehbaz Sharif expressed these views while talking to the PML-N leader from Sindh Senator Saleem Zia, who called on him here.
Matters of mutual interest and political affairs were discussed in the
meeting. Provincial Minister for School Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan was also present on the occasion.
Shehbaz Sharif said we need to promote the culture of politics of
“us” for welfare of people of Pakistan because the people of Pakistan only want resolution of their problems, and progress and prosperity, and those doing negative politics of allegations and
lies are the biggest hurdle in the way of progress and prosperity of the country.
He said 22 crore people during the last five years have realized
that the leadership of the PML-N has made sincere efforts to resolve
their problems, while those who held sit-ins and lockdown have wasted precious time of the people. He said the government performed excellently to solve problems of the people, and agenda of public performance and prosperity has been advanced despite hurdles. That’s why the PML-N had become the most popular party of the country and its performance is in front of the public.
The CM said the ‘Dharna group’ raised hollow slogans to make new
Pakistan. He said change comes through public service, not through
hollow claims. He said those who made claims of change have made
records of lies and U-turn and these elements have distorted the shape of old Pakistan in their province.
PML-N Senator from Sindh Saleem Zia said CM Shehbaz Sharif is
working day and night for the resolution of problems of the people.
He said we want to make Punjab ‘role model province for other
provinces and making untiring efforts for this purpose. He said the
development of the people of Punjab represents vision of the chief
minister. He said everybody praises extraordinary hard work of the
chief minister for exemplary progress of Punjab.