Islamabad: Following the decision of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday suspended all the additional reserved seats in the assemblies across the country for which a notification has been issued.

According to the notification issued by the ECP, a total of 77 members of the National and Provincial Assembly have been suspended, in which the membership of 21 members from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has been suspended, while the membership of three minorities has been suspended in the National Assembly.

According to the released notification, 11 women members of National Assembly from Punjab and four members of minorities from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have been suspended while eight women members of National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also been suspended.

These reserved seats were additionally distributed among Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and other parties.

It is pertinent to note that on May 6, the Supreme Court suspended the decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and the ECP in the case related to the allocation of reserved seats by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to other parties.

Lahore: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday stepped down from the presidency of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), reportedly.

According to media reports, Shehbaz Sharif left the party post and sent his resignation to party leader Mian Nawaz Sharif.

It is also reported that the meeting of the PML-N Central Council will be held on May 18 in Lahore at 11:30am, in which former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif will be elected as the party's president.

The meeting of the executive committee of the party has been called under Article-15 of the party Constitution. The notice for the meeting has been sent to the central committee by Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal.

Islamabad: The federal government Monday approved 23 billion rupees for solving the problems of Azad Kashmir.

According to the details, a high-level meeting on the situation of Azad Kashmir was held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in which 23 billion rupees have been approved for solving the problems of Azad Kashmir.

It is reported that the meeting was held at the Prime Minister's House in which Azad Kashmir government, representatives of the Ministry of Interior and other important officials participated.

Apart from this, the Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs, Minister of Energy, Minister of Food Security also participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif was given a detailed briefing on the tense situation in Azad Kashmir.

It is pertinent to note that yesterday Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed serious concern over the situation in Azad Kashmir in his message on the social media website X.

Negotiations failed

On the other hand, the talks in Rawalakot with the Azad Kashmir government's Mutahidda Action Committee have failed.

Chairman Mutahidda Action Committee Shaukat Noz Mir said that their three demands are low-cost flour, complete relief in electricity and seizure of privileges from the elite, until these are accepted by the government, the strike will continue.

He further said that the government should accept the demands and issue a notification. ‘Our protest is peaceful and will not be allowed to be sabotaged.’

After the negotiations failed, convoys from Rawalakot and other places are moving towards Muzaffarabad.

On the call of Awami Action Committee in Azad Kashmir, the participants of the long march have reached Rawalakot and are preparing to go to Muzaffarabad.

Educational institutions and district offices will also be closed in the district today. Normal life has been paralysed in the entire Kashmir Valley including Poonch, Bagh and Jhelum Valley for four consecutive days.

Medical stores are also closed, patients and their families are facing severe difficulties. It has been decided to shut down mobile phones and internet in Azad Kashmir for two more days.

Background

It is important to mention that during the ongoing protest and strike for the supply of cheap electricity and flour in Azad Kashmir yesterday, the angry protesters and the police came face to face during which the police fired tear gas in response to stone pelting.

The strike was announced by the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Action Committee after at least 70 people were arrested during the raids on Thursday.

All business centers, offices and educational institutions were closed across Azad Kashmir due to strike and protest.

Clashes between police and protesters took place on Friday and Saturday, resulting in the death of at least one police officer and the injury of 90 others.