The PML-N won Wednesday’s by-elections in NA-123 (Lahore) and PP-82 (Jhang) while the PML-Zia and the PPP clinched PP-284 (Bahawalnagar) and PP-25 (Jafarabad), respectively, according to unofficial results received so far from majority of the polling stations.

The PML-N got a thumping majority in NA-123 (Lahore VI) where its candidate Pervaiz Malik got 44,547 votes while his nearest candidate from PTI Mian Hamid Miraj managed to get 9,304 votes, according to unofficial results.

Much trumpeted alliance of the JI and the PML-Q couldn’t save the former from a crushing defeat and its candidate, Hafiz Salman Butt, remained at number three with just over 3,275 votes to his name.

Read complete at The News

Polling for four seats of national and provincial assemblies of Punjab and Balochistan is underway, which will continue without any break till 5 pm, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The constituencies include NA-123 Lahore, PP-82 Jhang, PP-284 Bahawalnagar and BP-25 Jaffarabad where the strict security measures have been adopted.

Some candidates leveled charges of riggings on their rival candidates in some places.

In Bahawalnagar area of Fort Abbas, the polling had to be discontinued as a result of dispute between the polling agents of different candidates in polling station-295.

Link to Geo News

Based on the current situation in Pakistan, what should the opposition do?

- Opposition parties should start protesting, to pressurize the resignation of the present Federal Government
- PML-N should join hands and with MQM and PMLQ (Pro-Musharraf parties) to form a new Federal Government
- I want the current tenure to be completed, so the bad elements get wiped out through the democratic process
- Enough is Enough! I want Gen. Kiyani to take over and put every one in jail

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PPP has threatened PMLN in Punjab and demanded that 40 percent of the government jobs should be given to PPP. Similarly, MQM had earlier threatened PPP in Sindh and asked for 40% quota in Government jobs based on party affiliation of candidates.

Earlier, PPP allocated 7.5 Billion rupees for 7,700 sacked employees who were hired based on political affiliations.

What should be the criteria for Government Jobs? Do you think jobs based on political affiliation are justified?

The UN Commission probing the assassination of Benazir Bhutto said it would submit its findings on March 31 to Pakistan’s government, according to DawnNews.

The UN had appointed a three-member inquiry commission to determine the facts and circumstances under which Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007. The United Nations Inquiry Commission arrived to discuss security issues with Pakistani authorities earlier this month.

The UN investigation had hit a road block as the government had denied access to the incumbent Army Chief and other top serving military generals for interrogation.

The commission wanted access to the Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, former ISI Chief Lt.Gen Nadeem Taj and former Military Intelligence Chief Lt.Gen Nadeem Ejaz Mian among other top officials of the intelligence agencies.

The UN probe commission’s terms of reference said ‘the government shall comply with the requests of the commission for assistance in collecting the required information and testimony, and shall provide it with the necessary facilities to enable it to discharge its mandate.’

Read complete news at Dawn

Pakistan approaches a new dawn, where the people being blessed with the best education portray an absolute disconnect from the nation’s identity as evident from this video. What are your views?

Perhaps what Azizi of Hasb-e-Hall dubs as “NGO Zada Class”, is the one benefiting from all the blessings of this country, and yet such oblivion. These people when they go abroad to study end up representing a completely different image of Pakistan, one that is disconnected from the ground realities. Phrases like “agar roti nahi hai, to double roti kiyon nahi kha lete?“ and perhaps even worse are not uncommon or even worse “paindos” and what not. The royal upper middle and elite class who continue to hoard the nations money and power, is this what we have to look forward to?

Unofficial results that have started pouring in show Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate Shakil Awan in clear lead over Sheikh Rashid in a neck-and-neck competition between the two.

Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate Shakil Awan is currently leading with 70,591 votes leaving behind Sheikh Rashid who has bagged 43,993 in today’s by-election in NA-55 Constituency.

So far unofficial results of 215 polling stations have poured in.

It’s 24th February 2010 and people of Rawalpindi will cast their votes today. NA-55 is considered to be the hottest seat in media and healthy competition is expected between 22 candidates belonging to PML, PTI, AML, JI, ANP etc and several independent candidates.

There are of 334,269 registered voters in NA-55, including 183,507 men and 150,762 women. 250 polling stations have been setup containing 597 polling booths.

Please feel free to share any updates on this election.

The election campaigns of PMLN, PTI, AML and JI etc have come to an end tonight and the polls will be held on 24th February 2010. Top leadership of 3 parties, including Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and Shiekh Rasheed performed their final speeches at Rawalpindi tonight.

Video clips of these jalsaas have been added.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced the formal withdrawal of the two suspended presidential notifications Wednesday following his meeting with Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at the Prime Minister House.

Briefing the media here, Prime Minister Gilani said the government has also decided to elevate Justice Saqib Nisar and Justice Asif Khosa to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, while Justice Khalil Ramday will be appointed as an ad-hoc judge in the apex court.

A notification in this regard will be issued anytime today, he announced.

He further said Justice Khawaja Sharif will continue to work as the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court.

Gilani said the decision has been taken in the best interest of nation, country, political forces and the democratic system.

Read complete update at The News