Lahore: The Lahore high court (LHC) has termed the election commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notice of recounting the votes as illegal.

According to the details, justice Shakeel Ahmed issued the written decree consisted on 18 pages of plea approval of the independent candidate Rana Muhammad Faraz.

It is stated in the verdict that the ECP issued a notice without having the jurisdiction of it regarding the recounting of votes. The applicant has got 1,34,937 votes while his competitor candidate Abd-ur-Rehman has got 1,28,438 votes.

The court said that the electoral results were prepared in the presence of the parties. The form-47 and 45 were issued by the authorities. Election commission issued the notice of recounting on the plea of opposite candidate.

It is also said in the written decree that in accordance of the applicant the ECP issued an illegal notice of recounting the votes without knowing him. The ECP has no jurisdiction of it.

Later then the court added that the ECP cannot issue the notice of recounting the votes.

Lahore: The Punjab government could not decide on the proposals of giving subsidy to small farmers on wheat.

According to the media reports quoting Food department sources, only 120,000 farmers meet the Punjab government's wheat purchase policy and if subsidies are given to the farmers who meet the purchase policy, more than Rs5 billion will be spent.

It is also reported that the government is currently considering giving a subsidy of a few hundred rupees per maund to the farmers, but even giving the subsidy does not seem likely to end the farmers' protest.

According to food department, the Punjab government is ready to buy wheat with 10% moisture as per the policy, however, there is no wheat with 10% moisture in any district of Punjab and it is more than 16% due to rains.

The reports also told that the government has indicated the farmers to buy wheat for political point scoring, while the government has plenty of wheat for the next full year. Abundant wheat, moisture ratio and economic situation are obstacles in buying wheat.

On the other hand, farmers are also protesting for not buying wheat at the government level. Farmer leader Khalid Bath said that if the government does not buy wheat, the farmers will continue their protest.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the approval of final installment of $1.1 billion for Pakistan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to the details, Prime Minister said that receiving the installment of 1.1 billion dollars from the IMF will bring more economic stability in Pakistan. In 2016, Nawaz Sharif had completed the IMF program.

Shehbaz Sharif stated that now the second program of Standby Agreement (SBA) is being completed. This agreement with IMF proved to be important in saving Pakistan from default, the fruits of difficult decision are coming in the form of economic stability.

He added: “We will do our best to improve the economy, taking loans is not success, success will be the day we get rid of debt”.

Later, the Prime Minister praised the efforts of the entire economic team including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Managing Director of IMF for supporting Pakistan in difficult times.

It is pertinent to note that yesterday the Executive Board of IMF approved the release of the last installment of 1.1 billion dollars for Pakistan under the Standby Arrangement (SBA).