KARACHI: Reports surfaced during the polling day of general elections in the city that some ballots were cast without serial numbers on them.

During visits to different polling stations, it was found that extra votes were being added to ballots issued for three national and six provincial constituencies in district south.

Normally, there are 100 votes in a ballot book, but some polling stations had over 100 ballots without serial numbers.

Observers saw instances where votes were cast without serial numbers, despite objections raised by political parties’ agents. Eventually, 11 extra votes were found in the books without serial numbers, and demands were made to invalidate these votes. However, some votes were still cast without serial numbers.

A presiding officer stated that this was an error by the Election Commission, which could lead to discrepancies in results, adding that polled votes could be challenged in courts.

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LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi paid a visit to the Provincial Election Commission Office on Thursday and met with the provincial Election Commissioner Ejaz Ahmad Chohan.

Both expressed complete satisfaction over making excellent arrangements for holding general elections in a peaceful environment across the province.

Mohsin Naqvi while expressing his views thanked Allah Almighty that polling was held in a peaceful manner across Punjab, adding that excellent coordination remained between all the relevant provincial departments and the Provincial Election Commission.

The law and order situation remained under control on the whole owing to excellent steps being taken by the Punjab government across the province.

The electorates used their right to vote in an

independent manner, he added.

The CM Naqvi also paid a visit to the Central Control Room being established by the Home Department at the Civil Secretariat to review and monitor the arrangements being made for holding the general elections across the province.

The CM went to the central control room and conducted a detailed review of the monitoring arrangements.

Secretary Home gave a briefing to the CM about the arrangements being undertaken to ensure holding of general elections in a peaceful environment along with the monitoring system.

Mohsin Naqvi stated that by the grace of Allah Almighty and due to day and night hard work of the Punjab government, the crucial phase of holding general elections has been completed in a peaceful and nice manner.

The police, administration and law enforcement institutions jointly maintained the law and order environment during the general elections, he added.

The CM acknowledged that excellent arrangements have been made for holding the general elections in every city of Punjab including Lahore.

IG Police Dr Usman Anwar, CCPO Lahore and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.

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LAHORE: The unexpected suspension of internet and mobile services on Election Day not only invited sharp criticism from almost all the political parties contesting the polls but also deprived several eligible voters of using their right of franchise.

The voters were unaware of the polling stations and were found running from pillar to post.

Muhammad Aleem, a voter in NA-130, told this scribe that his family comprises six members; three voters were at one polling station at the Chief Engineer’s Office at Lake Road, while the other three votes could not be traced out. He added that shifting three votes in one family was a big question mark. He said that with the stoppage of internet service, his three members could not cast their votes. He claimed that many other families were complaining of this discrepancy.

PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan stated that the internet outage “will impede the work that our activists are doing on the ground to get people to the polling stations.” He said: “The physical space given to us has been completely cut out, so we depend on connectivity through the net.”

The PML-N senior leader, Khawaja Saad Rafique, also resented the internet outage and said the voters are having difficulty searching their polling station.

On the other hand, Amnesty International has called the suspension of mobile and internet services “a blunt attack on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

“It is reckless to impede access to information as people head out to polling stations on the heels of devastating bomb blasts and what has been an intense crackdown on the opposition in the lead-up to the elections in the country,” Amnesty International’s South Asia office said in a statement. “Unwarranted restrictions on the dissemination of information, despite reassurances to the contrary from the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority and Election Commission of Pakistan, are in breach of people’s human rights at this critical time in Pakistan.”

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ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take action on a petition of Aurat Foundation against the non-compliance of allocation of five per cent quota for women by political parties in the general elections.

Aurat Foundation Executive Director Naeem Ahmed Mirza told the IHC that many political parties have not complied with Section 206 of the Elections Act 2017 which is related to the allocation of five per cent quota for women by political parties for the general elections.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, who heard the case, directed the ECP to take action on the complaint by the Aurat Foundation as per law after the elections and disposed of the matter.

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The Aurat Foundation’s petition stated that only Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have allocated over five per cent of their parties’ tickets to women for 266 National Assembly seats, while other political parties have failed to meet this requirement.

The petitioner said that he had filed an application with the ECP, urging it to act in accordance with the law and ensure that the political parties observe the five per cent women quota in the award of tickets to their candidates. However, the ECP had not taken any action on his application till date.

According to the petitioner, for National Assembly seats, several parties including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP), Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F), and the Balochistan National Party (BNP) did not meet the requirement of allocating at least five percent of their tickets to women for general seats.

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari showed concern over the slow process of results of general election 2024. He said election results are coming in incredibly slow.

Bilawal voiced concern over the sluggish pace of the election results, highlighting significant delays in the process.

Bilawal says will protect party’s mandate

The PPP chairman said in his tweet at night on Thursday, “Results are incredibly slow coming in. However, initial results are very encouraging. PPP candidates and independents whom we have supported/engaged with seem to be doing well. Let’s see what the final tally is in the end…”

Bilawal noted that initial election results show promise for the PPP, with PPP candidates and supported independent candidates demonstrating strong performance. However, the outcome remains uncertain.

It is important to note that the vote counting and result announcement process is ongoing following the general elections across the country.

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ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja expressed his gratitude and congratulations to the nation for the successful conduct of the election.

In a special message, he thanked the people of Pakistan for fulfilling their constitutional and national responsibility, state news channel PTV reported.

Sultan Raja extended his appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the electoral process, including federal and provincial caretaker governments, political parties, security agencies, police, civil administration, Pakistan Army, media, voters, polling staff and election members and their staff. He expressed confidence in the responsible conduct of the returning officers and urged them to fulfill their duties diligently, ensuring timely ordering and delivery of results.

ISLAMABAD: At least 51 cowardly terrorist attacks aimed at disrupting the electoral process took place, mostly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, in which, 12 people (including 10 security forces and law enforcement agencies personnel) embraced Shahadat and 39 others have been injured.

However, the soldiers remained resolute and effectively ensured peace and security across Pakistan.

The armed forces in a statement extended heartfelt congratulations to the nation on the generally peaceful and violence-free conduct of the general elections.

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According to a statement shared by the ISPR, the armed forces alongside other law enforcement agencies are proud to have played a pivotal role in providing security during the conduct of the sacred electoral process, in aid of civil power, and in accordance with the constitution of Pakistan. With the deployment of 137,000 army personnel and civil armed forces at approximately 6,000 selected most sensitive polling stations and over 7800 QRFs, a safe and secure environment for the public was ensured, the statement added.

51 cowardly terrorist attacks took place mostly in KP and Balochistan, aimed at disrupting the electoral process.

Through proactive intelligence manoeuvres and swift action, many potential threats were neutralised, underscoring the unwavering commitment of our security agencies to protect the democratic rights of our citizens. During various operations, five terrorists were also killed.

Gratitude is owed to other law enforcement agencies that worked hand in hand with the armed forces to safeguard the democratic process. It is our fervent hope that our sacrifices will not be in vain and this election will serve as a catalyst for further strengthening democracy in Pakistan and that it will pave the way for the realisation of the aspirations of the people of Pakistan, the ISPR said.

It further stated that the armed forces remain dedicated to upholding peace and security in the country and stand ready to provide unwavering support in safeguarding the democratic traditions of our state.

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ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday, congratulating the nation over the successful conduct of general elections 2024, said the high voter turnout was a clear indication of public commitment to shaping the country’s future.

“The participation and enthusiasm of the people of Pakistan have been the cornerstone of this democratic exercise. The high voter turnout is a clear indication of public commitment to shaping the future of our country,” the prime minister wrote on his X timeline following the polling ended after a smooth and peaceful process across the country.

He appreciated the efforts of the Election Commission of Pakistan, interim provincial governments, armed forces, civil armed forces, police, law enforcement agencies, election staff, media and all those institutions and individuals who contributed to the conduct of the free and fair elections.

Prime Minister Kakar said the momentous occasion was not just a testament to the resilience and strength of the

country’s democratic processes but also the indomitable spirit of

the Pakistani people.

He said the voices, expressed through the votes, would contribute to the fortification of the country’s democracy, and for that, the people of Pakistan deserved every bit of appreciation.

PM Kakar said that despite few incidents of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the efforts of armed forces, civil armed forces, LEAs, civilian administration and Election Commission of Pakistan for conducting free and fair elections across the country were commendable.

“Their unwavering commitment to their duties has been instrumental in the smooth conduct of the elections.”

He said that in the face of adversity, the people of Pakistan had shown remarkable courage and determination.

He said the institutions’ resolve in the aftermath of the recent terrorism incidents, continuing to participate in the electoral process, was a powerful statement against the forces that sought to destabilize the nation. It underscores our collective desire for peace, stability, and prosperity, he added.

“Once again, I congratulate the nation on this historic achievement. May this election be a harbinger of a brighter, more prosperous future for Pakistan,” the prime minister remarked.

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RAWALPINDI: We extend heartfelt congratulations to the nation on the generally peaceful and violence free conduct of the general elections.

The armed forces alongside other Law Enforcement Agencies are proud to have played a pivotal role in providing security during conduct of the sacred electoral process, in aid of civil power, and in accordance with the constitution of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) approached Chief Justice Qazi Faez against the unannounced disruption of mobile and internet services across the country on Election Day.

PPP Senator Taj Haider on Thursday wrote a letter to the CJP stating that the unannounced disruptions of internet and mobile network connectivity on Thursday (February 08) is severely impacting the general elections. He sent the letter’s copies to the chief justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) and to the chief justice of all the provincial high courts.

Earlier in the day, the PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had invited the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s attention towards the disruption of mobile and internet services across the country.

The letter cited the 2018 order of the IHC for not suspending the mobile and the internet services on the polling day.

Senator Haider in his letter maintained that due to this countrywide disruption of the mobile and the internet services, voters are unable to access information related to their polling station or coordinate logistics to access the polling stations.

The party requested the apex court to recall clear orders for not suspending internet on polling day as they were given by the IHC in 2018. The PPP termed the suspension of services in violation of the high court’s orders.

“The discontinuation of network services has created problems for voters, candidates, and electoral staff.” Without access to the internet and mobile networks, voters are unable to access vital information about polling stations and follow other electoral procedures and coordinate logistics to access respective polling stations.

It also stated; all the political parties except Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have objected to this announced disruption of internet in the media. The disruption of mobile network has impacted voter turnout. Despite the PPP’s request to the ECP, the services have not been restored, it further stated.

On Thursday morning, the Ministry of Interior suspended cellular services “temporarily” across Pakistan as part of security measures.

An Interior Ministry’s spokesperson said that precious lives were lost in recent incidents of terrorism in the country in the run-up to the general elections.

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday alleged that election results across the country are being delayed after Imran Khan’s candidates emerged victorious.

It urged party workers to stay at polling stations and only leave until they were provided with Form-45.

In a message on X, PTI secretary general Omar Ayub Khan said “there are reports of closure of the screens in the offices of returning officers in several circles.”

He warned that attacks on the people’s mandate through a “closed-door conspiracy” or tampering would have negative consequences.

PTI urges masses to cast their votes in great numbers

He also urged PTI workers to stay at polling stations and only leave until they were provided with Form-45.

“The election commission should ensure the immediate release of the results instead of facilitating the scandalous process of tampering with the election results,” he added.

In another message on X, the PTI said “even though the illegitimate, fascist regime tried every low tactic to scare & dissuade people from voting, the people of Pakistan came out today in unprecedented numbers to vehemently reject the system of oppression, lawlessness & fraud”.

Another message posted on the official X account of incarcerated PTI founding chairman Imran Khan reads “stay outside the offices of the returning officers (ROs) in a peaceful manner until the complete results are obtained.”

“Do not leave the RO office under any circumstance without collecting the complete result,” he added.

The PTI also alleged that “Form 45” has not yet been provided to the contesting candidates despite the completion of the polling process hours ago.

Chief Election Observer of PTI, Brigadier Muhammad Masood Abbasi (Retired) demanded immediate provision of “Form 45” to the PTI-supported candidates.

Abbasi, in a statement, said complaints are being received from the PTI-supported candidates in various constituencies of the national and provincial assemblies nationwide regarding the non-issuance of “Form 45” to the polling agents.

The PTI-backed candidates have not been provided with “Form 45” in several constituencies, including NA-6, NA-10, NA-41, NA-43, NA-44, NA-71, NA-150, NA-151, NA-209, NA-242, and many others, he claimed and alleged that workers and polling agents of his party are being targeted by police.

“Preparations are underway to change the results, observing the clear victory of PTI [supported] candidates,” Abbasi said.

Failure to provide Form-45 hours after the polling process is a blatant violation of election rules and regulations and a systematic and shameful attempt at rigging, stated Abbasi.

He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), taking note of these incidents, should ensure the immediate provision of Form 45 to the candidates and take action against those involved in irregularities. “The Pakistani nation will not accept any manipulation of its voting rights through changes in election results,” he warned.

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LAHORE: The polling for 14 National Assembly and 30 Punjab Assembly seats was held on Thursday in the provincial metropolis amid strict security measures.

The polling process continued peacefully from 8 am to 5 pm without any interval across the provincial capital, and people of all ages actively participated in the election process to elect candidates of their choice. The voters in the polling station at 5 pm were permitted to cast their votes.

Polling started in some constituencies after an hour’s delay. The polling staffers were found untrained at some polling stations, which led to delays in the election process. At different polling stations in NA-125, 126, 118, and 130, voting was delayed for various reasons.

There were 12,164,417 registered voters in Lahore, out of which 3,636,253 were male and 3,221,841 were female. In total, 4,357 polling stations were set up in all the 14 National Assembly constituencies (NA-117 to NA-130) and respective constituencies of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab (PP-245 to PP-274).

Two former Prime Ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, former speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former Punjab CM Hamza Shehbaz and many other politicians were in the run. There were 266 candidates in the run for 14 NA seats from Lahore. Likewise, 813 candidates were in the run for 30 seats of the Punjab Assembly from Lahore. Of 4,354 polling stations, 1,120 were declared highly sensitive, and 3,107 sensitive.

Several polling stations in NA-130, where PML-N supremo Nawaz was in the run, started the polling process with representatives from only one party. In many stations, only the PML-N agents were present, while the representatives from the PTI-backed independents, PPP, JI and TLP, were absent.

Outside the Chishti High School, opposite the Baba Ground, there was no PTI polling camp; a PTI lady worker told the Business Recorder that they set up one, but the members of the PML-N, with the assistance of the police, forced them to leave the place. However, the political workers of other parties, including PML-N and PPP, said there was no such incident. “The polling has been peaceful, and a respectable turnout was seen,” they added.

The police denied this scribe entry into the Chishti High School lady polling station on the pretext that a senior official was visiting the polling station. Still, the media was permitted to enter the Government Graduate College polling station in the same constituency. The police personnel adopted a harsh attitude towards the press. It restricted their entry at some other polling stations.

The polling agents inside the polling station said the polling process was running smoothly, and no untoward incident was reported. A polling agent of the PTI said they faced no harassment and were expecting an average turnout. A presiding officer said the polling process had been peaceful, and he was expecting a turnout in the range of 45 percent.

However, in the afternoon, a rush was seen outside the Government Girls Elementary School polling station, People’s Park, and the PTI’s polling camp, which was the busiest. A PTI worker dealing with the voters said that people were pouring out to cast their vote, and he was optimistic that they would receive 70 to 80 percent of the votes.

Many voters were in queues to cast their votes inside the polling station. The presiding officer said there was a sudden surge of voters after 3 pm. “In the morning, the polling was slow, but it picked up momentum as the day progressed. Until 4 pm, the turnout was in the range of 40 percent, and I am expecting this number to be 50 percent after the polling ends,” he added.

A similar trend was seen in other polling stations where it was expected that the turnout would be in the range of 50 percent. The absence of mobile services throughout the day created problems for the voters to locate their polling stations. A PTI polling agent noted that no voter lists were provided to the polling agents stationed at the polling camps; only the polling agents inside the polling station were given one. “Since there was no mobile phone service, I could not issue chits bearing vote number and polling station number to voters and they were denied entry into the polling station,” he added.

In Icchra (NA 128), from where PTI-backed independent candidate Salman Akram Raja was running for the National Assembly seat, a large number of voters were seen rushing to a polling station as the polling time drew nearer.

In NA-125, from where PTI-backed independent Rana Javed Umer, PML-N’s Malik Afzal Khokhar and PPP’s Abdul Ghafoor Mayo were contesting, there were reports of violation of the Election Commission’s code of conduct.

The voters were seen at Raiwand’s polling stations taking pictures with their mobile phones after casting their votes. It is worth noting that the ECP had explicitly banned the possession of mobile phones within polling stations to maintain the integrity and secrecy of the voting process. The violation of the code of conduct has raised concerns about the sanctity of the electoral process in NA-125. Instances like these undermine the principles of fair and transparent elections that the election commission strives to uphold.

However, PPP senior leader Sherry Rehman Thursday visited the polling stations in NA-127 Lahore from where Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was contesting against PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar. During her visit to different polling stations, Sherry reviewed the preparations at the polling stations. On internet outages, she said, “We were told that internet and mobile phone services have been suspended temporarily. However, even after our demand to restore the services, the country was still witnessing the suspension of mobile phone services and internet outages.”

Meanwhile, to uphold the integrity and security of the electoral process, the District Returning Officer (DRO) and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lahore Rafia Haider issued stringent directives to ensure the safekeeping of crucial surveillance data from sensitive polling stations.

Following the conclusion of vote counting and the return of polling materials, Haider instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Security, District Monitoring Officer and the NRTC team to handle the transfer of CCTV camera records with utmost care. Emphasizing safeguarding this data, she mandated its transportation to the central control room for further scrutiny. A total of 65 NRTC teams, comprising 500 personnel, were deployed across the field in addition to the teams dispatched by the district monitoring officer.

The counting of votes was underway till the filing of this report. As per unofficial results, the PML-N candidates were leading the election race from Lahore.

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ISLAMABAD: Although the police personnel were seen guarding the polling stations during general elections, paramilitary forces were mostly nowhere to be seen but they swung into action only after unofficial results started coming.

The reports received from different areas revealed that the returning officers were not handing over Form 45 to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independent candidates’ polling agents due to which the supporters started protesting outside the offices of Returning Officers (ROs). As a result, ROs and DROs called for additional security, and then the personnel of Frontier Constabulary (FC) were deputed.

Along with personnel of FC, a heavy contingent of police was deployed outside the ROs office and ROs issued orders to throw out media persons from their offices.

Results of General Elections 2024: here is what the vote-count suggests so far

The government had deployed over 648,000 security personnel nationwide for general elections. Out of 648,000 security personnel, 137,000 security personnel from army and paramilitary forces and 511,000 police personnel had been deployed for security.

An average of seven to eight security personnel had been deployed at each of the 90,777 polling stations across the country.

Out of 90,777 police stations, 44,026 polling stations had been declared normal, 28,985 sensitive, and 16,766 as highly sensitive.

The law enforcement agencies had deployed over 9,000 security personnel in the federal capital for elections. Over 9,000 security personnel including6,500 personnel of the capital police, 1,000 Frontier Constabulary (FC), and 1,500 Rangers as well as personnel of the Pakistan Army were deployed for elections in three constituencies, NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48.

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LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) monitored the election process through its election monitoring cell established at the PML-N Secretariat here at Model Town.

PML-N leader Anusha Rehman, who was heading this cell, remained available throughout the day to receive any complaint from party candidates.

Former federal minister Azam Nazir Tarar who is head of legal team of the PML-N also remained available in the cell to address legal issues during the election process.

Moreover, the PML-N top leadership including Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and others also visited the PML-N Secretariat and held meetings with the PML-N leaders, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Anusha Rehman said she was optimistic of becoming PM for the fourth term by Nawaz Sharif. She hoped that challenges posed to the country would be tackled under the sagacious leadership of Nawaz Sharif.

The sources claimed that the PML-N monitoring cell received some complaints from different areas.

After the completion of polling process, the PML-N is receiving results from across the country for which a dedicated team is working.

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi said on Thursday that enthusiastic turnout in the general elections was not only a testament to the strengthening democracy in the country but also marked a significant milestone in its history.

Congratulating the entire nation on successful completion of polling process of the general elections 2024, he said in a policy statement on elections that “today the nation had witnessed another historic event in the democratic journey.”

“People across Pakistan participated in the process in large numbers demonstrating their commitment to democracy, their national responsibility and belief in the power of vote,” he maintained.

“The smooth conduct of the elections is attributed to the collective efforts of multiple stakeholders and it is my privilege to extend my gratitude to all those who played a pivotal role in this democratic exercise,” he added.

He specially thanked the international media, observers, local media and journalists covering the electoral process.

“Your presence and coverage has been instrumental in ensuring transparency and credibility shining a light on integrity of electoral process at global stage,” said the minister.

The minister also thanked the armed forces, civil armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civilian administration for their unwavering commitment and diligence in providing safe and secure environment for the electoral process.

“Their dedication ensured that the polling process was conducted peacefully allowing every citizen to exercise their right to vote in peace and safe environment,” he said.

Furthermore, he extended appreciation to the Election Commission of Pakistan for its exemplary conduct and management of electoral process.

Tireless efforts and dedication of the ECP to uphold democratic values and ensuring free and fair elections was commendable.

“The professionalism and integrity displayed by the commission has been crucial in reinforcing the confidence of public in democratic electoral process,” said Solangi. He said that in the moment of achieving a great benchmark, the nation should raise hands to pray for those who became victims in yesterday and today’s incidents. May Allah bless their souls in eternal peace and may the nation stands united for benefit from their ultimate sacrifice.

“As we move forward, let us all pledge to continue to supporting and strengthening our democratic institutions and process.”

“Together, we will build a stronger and more prosperous and democratic Pakistan for the future generations,” he remarked.

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chapter on Thursday vented out its anger over the alleged attempts of election rigging in the presence of law enforcers, slamming the rival MQM for “occupation” of the polling stations to turn results in its favour in the megacity.

“Media cannot show the irregularities in the election,” Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the JI Karachi Chief told a news conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan failed to regulate free and fair polls.

Polling stations in some localities of the megacity such as Baldia Town, Dastagir, North Karachi, Shah Faisal Colony, etc., were under the MQM occupation, he claimed, where the armed activists of MQM were attempting to cast fake votes in the evening hours.

He also alleged the law enforcers including Rangers and police of turning blind eye to the rigging attempts, saying that the ECP has also failed to ensure a smooth polling process. The rigging attempts were also made in the women polling stations, he said. He also accused the PPP of casting fake votes in some areas.

He said that the ECP could have also used its powers under the article 290 of the Constitution to ask the Federal Interior Minister for reopening the cellular services, which remained closed throughout the polling day.

“Everyone knows that the MQM polling camps remained empty all day long as people have rejected them,” he said. Media is unable to express the reality, he said and added that “forced results will not be accepted”.

About Rs48 billion has been spent on the election 2024, he said that there was no need to hold the polls if results of a choice were intended. It is everyone’s constitutional and democratic responsibility to point out the irregularities in polls, he said and made it clear that “We do not want to seek any help to get elected but a fair polls process”. He said that the JI’s wining trend should not be stopped, forcefully.

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PESHAWAR: Amid stringent security and adequate arrangements, polling for 45 General Seats of National Assembly and 115 general seats of Provincial Assembly remained largely peaceful across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday.

Owing to security concerns, mobile phone services temporarily remained suspended during polling day throughout the KP.

According to details, polling of votes of Election 2024 peacefully concluded in KP. However, voters inside polling stations were allowed to exercise their right of franchise.

The counting of ballot papers started in the presence of polling agents of the candidates. The 45 forms of results would be displayed at polling stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Polling began from 8:00 am, which continued till 5:00 pm without any interval across the province amid reports of clashes and exchange of harsh words between workers of various political parties.

Long queues of people including young, women and elderly were seen outside polling stations in several constituencies across the province. A total of 15,697 polling stations have been established in KP, while the number of polling stations reserved for men and women are 4,810 and 4,286 respectively. 6,610 joint polling stations set up for men and women in the province.

Over 12,000 policemen supported by the platoons of Frontier Constabulary were deployed for security during the elections in Peshawar.

Out of 15, 737 polling stations were set up for polls across KP, only 4,344 stations, less than 28 percent declared normal. On the other hand 4,812 polling stations had declared most sensitive while 6,581 had declared sensitive for the upcoming general elections.

At least four police officials have been martyred and six injured in a bomb attack on a police vehicle deployed for election security in Dera Ismail Khan.

According to police, reinforcements have been called in. The police vehicle was stationed in the jurisdiction of Kalachi police station. The mobile was deployed for the security of Graha Aslam polling station and a sub-inspector and other personnel were aboard the vehicle.

Indiscriminate shooting was reported in the area after the bomb attack. The bodies of the martyred officials and the injured were shifted to the hospital. Security forces have cordoned off the area and started a search operation.

Town police in Peshawar arrested an impersonated policeman from a polling station and shifted him to police station for interrogation. Police said, a man wearing police uniform was arrested on suspicion from a polling station of NA-31, Peshawar. A 30-bore pistol was also recovered from his possession. The arrested fake policeman was shifted to Town police station for interrogation.

Polling of votes remained peaceful in Nowshera, Charsadda and Mardan amid long queues of voters in polling stations in all urban and rural areas of these districts.

Long queues of voters was seen at polling stations setup at Govt Primary School Dheri Ishaq, Mohib Banda, Amankot and Azakhel Payan in NA 34 Nowshera-II where tough electoral battle is expected among PPP, PTI Parliamentarians, JUIF and ANP candidates.

Police and security officials were deployed at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations in NA 34 Nowshera-I and NA 33 Nowshera II.

Former KP Information Minister and ANP Central General Secretary, Mian Iftikhar Hussain who was contesting election on PK 89 Nowshera casted his vote at his native town Pabbi.

Similarly, PTI Parliamentarians Chairman, Pervez Khattak polled his vote at polling station Manki Sharif at NA 33 Nowshera-1. Pervez Khattak is contesting election on NA 33 Nowshera-I where he is being challenged by former MPA and PML-N KP leader, Ikhtair Wali Khan and other political heavyweight.

The candidates have set up private polling camps outside of polling stations for the education of young voters. Despite cold weather conditions, the voters thronged to polling stations in Swat, Shangla and Buner districts on Thursday afternoon and cast their votes in a free and peaceful atmosphere.

Polling stations at Mingora City, Amankot, Kalam, Malam Jabba, Bahrain, Madain, Khwazakhiela, Saidu Sharif in Swat, Sorwari, Daggar, Elum in Buner district and Bisham, Chakesar and Puran in Shangla are flooded with voters after Zuhar prayer.

Great enthusiasm was being witnessed among youth and women voters besides people of all walks of life in these mountainous districts.

In Bajaur, polling for elections 2024 was started on all three provincial assembly constituencies apart from the NA-8 and PK-22 which had been postponed due to assassination of one of the candidates.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly has 145 elected members, 115 regular seats, 26 seats reserved for women and 04 seats for Non-Muslims.

The voters in large numbers, especially young and female, thronged to polling stations at Kohat, Karak and Hangu districts on Thursday afternoon and cast their votes. In Kohat, long queues of voters are seen at polling stations set up at Jarma, Shakardara and other areas and are casting their votes in a peaceful atmosphere.

These voters would decide the fate of political stalwarts including PML-N former senator Abbas Afridi, ex-MNA Sharyar Afridi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Saifullah Bangash of JUIF besides independent candidates. Seth Saifullah Khan Bangash and Abbas Afridi polled their votes at native polling stations at Kohat. In KP-90, PTI district president Aftab Iqbal was facing a three-time election winner as independent candidate, Amjad Afridi, who remained part of the Awami National Party and the PTI, and was currently associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Voting process was carried out here in district Khyber on Thursday. It is to be mentioned here that 342 polling stations had been set up for one NA-27 and three provincial assembly seats (PK-69, PK-70 and PK-71) among which 91 polling stations had been announced sensitive. A total of 638743 voters comprising 349121 male and 289623 female voters exercised their right of franchise across Khyber.

The voting started at 08:00 am and continued till 05:00 pm without interruption. In the morning due to cold weather, a thin rush was witnessed while later on voters moved to their respective polling stations and casted their votes.

Contrary to assurance of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), mobile phone service and 3G, 4G net service was suspended in Khyber that multiplied miseries of the media persons.

On the other hand foolproof security arrangements had been at polling stations while forces troops had been deployed at sensitive polling stations. The Torkham border was suspended for all kinds of vehicle and pedestrian movement for twenty four hours. Election was in progress and after 05:00 pm counting of the votes started.

Meanwhile supporters of Qaumi Masail Committee, Landi Kotal, holding black flags and initiated sit-in at Charwazgai square, boycotted the election. The protestors who were carrying Identity Cards of their relatives, refused to cast their votes in protest against lack of basic facilities in the area.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa former Chief Minister and Vice Chairman, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Mahmood Khan polled his vote in his native polling station Khareri Swat district.

Jumat-e-Islami Pakistan Central Ameer, Sirajul Haq cast his vote at Dir Lower while Central Ameer of JUIF Maulana Fazlur Rehman at Abdulkhel in DI Khan district. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Awami National Party President Aimal Wali Khan cast vote at Charsadda.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has voiced concerns over reports of Internet shutdown, terming the issue ‘suspicious’. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in his ancestral constituency of Buner, he expressed a lack of confidence in election arrangements. “The information available so far is disappointing. The shutdown of Internet services raises suspicions,” Gohar said.

Despite the concerns, the PTI chief urged supporters of his party to turn up and cast their vote. “[The founder of PTI] is in jail for the freedom of the nation. Turning PTI’s majority into a minority by not turning up to vote will greatly harm the nation,” he stressed.

The Chairman of National Democratic Movement (NDM) and former member of the National Assembly, Mohsin Dawar, has written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner urging him to take notice of the security situation in North Waziristan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

A survey conducted by Ispos Pakistan Pulse has revealed some interesting details about people’s likely responses to the result of the general election held yesterday in the country. According to it, for example, as many as three out of every four Pakistanis will accept the election result; only seven percent are not likely to accept the outcome of the grand electoral exercise while 17 percent will remain unsure. But I have my doubts about the Survey’s assertion that 67 percent voters of PTI will accept the result while only 9 percent will reject it.

Moreover, only one percent of PPP voters will reject the result and 94 percent will accept it. In my view, PTI’s dissatisfaction with the result will certainly go beyond the nine percent mark, given it is the principal or perhaps the only party that has not been allowed a level playing field from the day one.

Insofar as PPP’s likely response to the election result is concerned, it is increasingly clear that the party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will voice his reservations loudly and clearly as he has already used his grievances in relation to the issue of a level playing field and the interim setup’s overt tilt towards PML-N to step up his criticism of not only the PML-N and the interim governments at Centre and in provinces but also the Election Commission of Pakistan. That the PPP has so far acted more shrewdly and cleverly than the rest regardless of the outcome of the general election is a fact. For example, it was PML-N, not PPP, that had found itself pitted against country’s largest political party, PTI, in the 2024 general election.

Sagheer Cheema

Islamabad

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The air of uncertainty surrounding the fate of general polls finally cleared on Thursday with the conduct of the elections that remained generally peaceful but questions over the credibility of this electoral exercise continued to persist in the absence of a mainstream political force, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and mysterious delay in the election results issuance.

Till the filing of this report in the early hours of Friday, the PTI-backed independent candidates, in the unofficial poll results, were ahead of their rival candidates in several NA seats before the ECP’s much hyped Election Management System (EMS) ‘broke down’ under suspicious circumstances in the middle of transmitting the general election results.

It gave credence to speculations that elections were being rigged against the PTI-backed candidates keeping in view that the initial results were showing that these candidates were leading with visible margins against their rivals.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not comment on the matter. Some media circles quoted Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja as having confirmed that the EMS was down.

Election: the big picture is already clear

Later in the night, the results started to arrive when this report was filed.

The ECP claims that EMS is equipped with sophisticated features for the smooth transmission of polls results. However, a letter, written last week, by a returning officer of NA seat NA-197 Kamber-Shahdadkot to the district returning officer of the said seat raised serious questions about the efficiency and reliability of the EMS.

“Either the EMS is an utter failure or there is someone else that controls and manages the system behind the veil,” the RO wrote.

The electoral body confirmed the authenticity of the letter but avoided commenting on this issue any further.

Moreover, the unannounced closure of the cellular services, on the reported pretext of security threats, from early Thursday morning till the filing of this story, fuelled speculations of foul play in the elections.

Raja, the CEC, distanced himself from the cellular services blockade, saying that he did not direct the authorities to suspend the mobile phone services.

The suspension of cellular services would not affect the compilation of election results, he told the media.

In his message, the CEC congratulated the people of Pakistan and all the institutions that made successful the conduct of general elections possible.

He also expressed his special debt of gratitude to the international media and observers who especially came to Pakistan to observe the electoral process.

Regardless of the CEC claims, the polls were held in an air of uncertainty and fear drawn by security threats, allegations of massive poll-rigging, apparent denial of level playing field coupled with alleged state-sponsored coercion against the members of a political party, and undeclared curbs on the media.

All the mainstream parties, barring the PTI, contested the general elections. Following Supreme Court’s decision, last month, that disallowed the PTI to retain its election symbol, the PTI candidates contested the general elections as independents.

Reports from different parts across the country suggest that PTI members were mostly not allowed to run their respective election campaigns—by the officials of some powerful state institutions that allegedly use coercive and intimidating methods to suppress dissent.

Scores of footages are doing rounds on the social media wherein the officials of law enforcement agencies could be seen manhandling the PTI-linked candidates through torture and verbal abuse, arresting these candidates and intimidating them by launching late-night raids at their residences. The videos also revealed that families of the PTI-backed candidates are being harassed by unidentified plain-clothed men apparently to dissuade them from supporting Imran Khan’s political party

Apart from that, over 128.58 million citizens were the eligible registered voters for the general polls with 17,800 candidates in run for the five legislatures, and over 260 million ballot papers printed for the polls, according to ECP.

The electoral body says some 90,675 polling stations, comprising of 266,398 polling booths were set up for the elections. Of them, 16,766 polling stations were marked as highly sensitive and 29,985 as sensitive.

The general elections took place over a year after the dissolution of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies on January 14 and January 18, last year, respectively.

The NA was dissolved on August 9, Sindh Assembly on August 11 and Balochistan Assembly on August 12, last year.

Constitutionally, keeping in view the NA dissolution date, the cut-off date to hold the NA general elections within the 90-day period was November 7, last year.

Article 224(2) of the constitution provides that when the NA or a provincial assembly is dissolved, a general election to the assembly shall be held within a period of 90 days after the dissolution, and the results of the election shall be declared not later than 14 days after the conclusion of the polls.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the deteriorating law and order situation and to mitigate potential security threats, the government suspended internet service across the country for Election Day on Thursday.

According to the Interior Ministry spokesman, the recent surge in terrorist activities resulting in the loss of precious lives has stirred a security environment in the country.

In light of the deteriorating security situation and to mitigate potential security threats, it has been decided to temporarily suspend mobile services across the country.

Meanwhile, caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz visited the Election Commission of Pakistan’s control room. “Hopefully, the election process will be wrapped up peacefully,” he said.

Ensuring internet access on Election day

“Right now, the polling process is underway peacefully,” he said.

He said that no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

Ejaz also visited Safe City Islamabad along with the Head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan briefed Ejaz about the law and order situation and polling stations in the city.

Following the conclusion of the process of polling, the minister said that the overall security situation across the country was kept generally stable to ensure the peaceful conduct of free and fair elections.

Security personnel were deployed extensively and in large numbers, ensuring the smooth conduct of the electoral process, which is a testament to their commitment to democracy and the people of Pakistan, he said, adding that despite a few isolated incidents, the overall situation remained under control, demonstrating the effectiveness of our security measures.

He said that the smooth conclusion of the polling process underscored the commitment of our Armed Forces, Civil Armed Forces, and Law Enforcement Agencies to providing a peaceful environment for voters, enabling them to exercise their democratic right without fear.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

The caretaker government had one job – hold timely, free/fair elections – and that was put to the test today.

To start off, the day kicked off with communication being disrupted as the government looked to address legitimate security concerns during polling.

The electorate – and the rest of the hapless nation – were not able to check where their polling station was located.

Mobile phone services suspended across Pakistan as voting begins

Earlier, most government officials and even the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had declared on record that internet and cellular services will not be shut down.

Dr Umar Saif, Caretaker Minister for IT and Telecom who unveiled the first-ever IT and ITeS export strategy to increase Pakistan’s IT exports, was nowhere to be found.

He looked to bring PayPal one way or another, but failed to fight the case for connectivity on the country’s biggest day – election day. Remember this when he looks to pitch Pakistan’s IT potential next time around.

Meanwhile, the election process started late at many polling stations and large queues were seen at many polling stations.

Highly questionable conduct of caretakers

The officials of the caretaker government successfully approved the restructuring of our beleaguered national airline, PIA, and the privatisation of First Women’s Bank Limited.

One of its key players, the controversial caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, was also elected unopposed as the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) – one of the most sought-after positions in the country.

But the caretakers cared very little for disabled and elderly voters as people on wheelchairs and with mobility issues faced difficulties during the voting process.

Reaching polling booths was an arduous job for them as there were no ramps, and in some cases, polling booths were on either first or even second floors – without elevators.

Can Pakistan boost its IT exports to $25 billion in a few years?

On top of that, voters were further confused with the symbols allotted to the respective candidates.

And last but not least, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was making his presence known in Davos, Switzerland to participate in the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), less than a month prior to election day.

On Thursday, he was, however, appreciating the efforts of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Interim Provincial Governments, Armed Forces, Civil Armed Forces, police, law enforcement agencies, election staff, the media, and all those institutions and individuals who contributed to the conduct of the free and fair elections.

Did the day proceed the way it was supposed to? Or are we missing something?

The article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Recorder or its owners

The armed forces of Pakistan Thursday congratulated the nation on the peaceful conduct of the general elections, saying they would "catalyze further strengthening of democracy in Pakistan and pave the way for people to realize their aspirations in Pakistan," the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

According to the military's media wing, the armed forces, along with other law enforcement agencies, provided vital security during the sacred electoral process, in support of civil power and as required by Pakistani law.

"With the deployment of 137,000 army personnel and civil armed forces at approximately 6,000 selected most sensitive polling stations and over 7800 QRFs, a safe and secure environment for the public was ensured," it said.

The statement added that despite 51 cowardly terrorist attacks, mostly in KP and Balochistan, aimed at disrupting the electoral process, the soldiers remained resolute and effectively ensured peace and security across Pakistan.

"12 people (including 10 personnel of security forces and law enforcement agencies) embraced Shahadat and 39 others have been injured in these attacks," the statement added.

It said that through proactive intelligence maneuvers and swift action, many potential threats were neutralized, underscoring the unwavering commitment of our security agencies to protect the democratic rights of our citizens.

"During various operations, 5 Terrorists were also killed," ISPR said.

"Gratitude is owed to other law enforcement agencies that worked hand in hand with the armed forces to safeguard the democratic process," according to the statement.

According to the statement, the armed forces remain dedicated to maintaining peace and security in the country and stand ready to support the democratic traditions of our nation unwaveringly.

The interior ministry announced on Thursday that mobile services, which were suspended earlier today as Pakistanis came out to vote, were starting to be partially restored in different parts of the country.

The ministry in a post on X said mobile services were partially restored in Punjab’s Bhakkar, Sargodha, Taxila and Gujar Khan Chakri, as well as Loralai. Jhal Magsi and Sibi in Balochistan .

In Sindh, the ministry services have been restored everywhere except “Malik and Karachi”.

It added that more areas will get their mobile services back soon.

As soon as voting started at 8:00am today, the caretaker government suspended mobile phone services “to strengthen security as voting began in the country’s national election”, the interior ministry said.

“As a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country precious lives have been lost, security measures are essential to maintain the law and order situation and deal with possible threats, hence the temporary suspension of mobile services across the country,” the interior ministry said in a message on X.

Later, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja said that he was in constant touch with the government over the suspension of cellular services.

Talking to the media in Islamabad, the CEC said he was cognizant of the difficulties faced by voters due to the suspension of mobile phone services.

The chief election commissioner said people should have checked their voting details by sending a message on 8300 before the polling day.

A massive delay in issuance of official results by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), allegations of tampering of poll results, and calls for greater transparency in the process clouded Pakistan’s General Elections after millions of citizens exercised their right to vote on Thursday.

Despite wider expectation that a clear picture would likely emerge on Friday, counting of votes apparently continued till Sunday morning.

Delay in election results: ROs fail to meet ECP’s 30-minute deadline

For updated results, please refresh this page.

The following list is as per the provisional (Form-47) results issued on the ECP’s website. Any candidate’s position is subject to change. Business Recorder will rely on the ECP’s official results to determine a final position.

Completed, but provisional results

• NA-8

Election Postponed

• NA-88

Result withheld

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Thursday said the decision of Pakistan authorities to suspend telecommunications and mobile internet services on election day was a “blunt attack” on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The human rights group called on the authorities to adopt a “rights-respecting approach” and urgently lift all “blanket restrictions” on access to the internet.

The development comes after telecommunication and internet services were suspended across Pakistan on Thursday.

“The decision to suspend telecommunications and mobile internet services on an election day is a blunt attack on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Amnesty International calls on the Pakistan authorities to urgently lift the blanket restrictions on access to the internet,” Amnesty International said.

The group had earlier called on Pakistani authorities to guarantee uninterrupted access to internet and digital communication platforms for everyone across the country on the election day.

The world’s fifth largest democracy voted under a bar on communication with mobile internet services disrupted and delays in the start of polling reported at several areas.

Nearly 129 million Pakistanis were due to vote across 90,000 polling stations across the country amid hope that helping elect the 266 candidates would steer the country out of its current economic crisis.

“Mobile services are down due to extreme security reasons. Ensuring security is vitally important so that people turn out without fear,” the Ministry of Interior wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

It may be noted that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had earlier said that the internet services would work on the election day, dispelling reports that any kind of disruption would take place.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also condemned the suspension of cellular and internet services, saying “disruption to services has occurred despite the Sindh High Court’s direction to the caretaker government to ensure uninterrupted internet services on polling day”.

“With the PTA claiming it has received no instructions from the government to block internet services, there is a worrying lack of transparency about where, when and how long the disruption will continue, thereby affecting voters’ right to information and potentially the transmission of results. Those who gave this order must be identified and held responsible,” the HRCP wrote in a post on X.

As Pakistan went to the polls on February 8 amidst a stifling telecommunication blackout, celebrities also cast their votes with positive reinforcement for the country and the general elections 2024.

Among the ones who made it out to their respective polling stations included actor Mahira Khan, Hina Bayat, Azekah Daniel and Mawra Hussain.

Here is a roundup of celebrities across Pakistan on election day:

Pakistan’s favourite cross-border star Mahira posted a picture of her with her voting stamp, encouraging others to do the same.

Mahira had also posted a note on Wednesday as well, encouraging everyone to come out today.

Actor Azekah Daniel and Mawra Hussain both posted images enroute and back from their respective polling stations.

Actor Aiman Khan took to Instagram, urging her fans to exercise their right to vote.

Actor Bilal Abbas Khan also posted an image on Instagram, telling fans to make their way to the polls to vote for the choicest candidate.

Actor Hina Bayat posted several videos on Instagram, showcasing her own voting stamp as well as giving a review of the polling station and polling officers at her respective station.

Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez too made it out to vote.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja stated on Thursday that the internet shutdown caused by the suspension of cellular services will not impact the compilation of election results, affirming that the electoral watchdog has an “exclusive and independent networking system”.

"Most questions during my media talk earlier today were about the suspension of cellular services and concerns over delay in result compilation due to this," the CEC said in a statement released on X - formerly Twitter.

"However, I want to clarify that our election management system is not reliant on internet services and internet outage will not impact result compilation."

He further said that the resumption of the internet will be contingent upon the resolution of security concerns.

Sikandar Sultan Raja said the elections were entirely transparent throughout the country, with no voter being prevented from voting.**

"No citizen was prevented from voting," he said, adding that polling time was extended at three Gujarat polling stations at the request of the concerned voters.

While speaking to the media earlier in the day in Islamabad, the CEC said he was in constant touch with the government over the suspension of cellular services.

Raja said he was cognizant of the difficulties faced by voters due to the suspension of mobile phone services.

The chief election commissioner said people should have checked their voting details by sending a message on 8300 before the polling day.

When asked if the disruption of cellular services would slow down the voting process and result in low voter turnout, he said it was too early to talk about this topic.

At least four policemen were martyred and five others injured in a blast targeting a police vehicle in Kulachi tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, Aaj News reported.

According to reports, an improvised explosive device (IED) rocked the police vehicle in Garra Aslam area.

This incident marks the latest in a string of attacks on security personnel and law enforcement agencies deployed during the 2024 elections.

Earlier today, unidentified assailants ambushed a security forces vehicle in KP’s Tank district, resulting in the martyrdom of a security official.

Additionally, in a separate incident, a Balochistan Levies official lost his life when a Levies vehicle was attacked in Kharan district, Balochistan. Initial reports indicate that the vehicle was targeted in a grenade assault.

On Wednesday, at least 28 people were killed and more than 30 wounded by two bomb blasts outside the offices of candidates in southwestern Pakistan, in attacks claimed hours later by the Islamic State group.

Former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr Reza Baqir said the incoming government would need to initiate negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and control inflation.

“Pakistan has significant economic challenges, one of them is how sustainable is its debt. Pakistan does not have access to capital markets, and one of the key priorities for any government that is elected is going to be how to restore confidence in its economy,” he said while talking to Bloomberg TV.

The remarks come as Pakistan conducts General Elections with cellular services suspended amid what the interior ministry called ‘security concerns’.

Pakistan, IMF reach staff-level agreement on first review for 9-month Stand-By Arrangement

Baqir noted that the challenges for the incoming government would be its negotiations with the IMF, and controlling skyrocket inflation.

“I think the number one challenge is going to be how to put the economy on a sustainable footing and how to manage its relationship with the IMF,” said the former SBP governor, who termed the IMF-Pakistan history as an “unhappy marriage”.

On projections, Baqir said the inflation level in the coming 12 months would depend on the pace of economic confidence restoration.

“How quickly also the IMF deal is put through, because the earlier that is done, the earlier people will have confidence and the currency would continue to stabilise.”

Baqir said Pakistan remains dependent on the Washington-based lender “at least for now” as “it needs the IMF’s seal of good housekeeping if it is to continue to borrow from China and the Middle East”.

Economy: a difficult road ahead as well

Baqir, currently the Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal, shared over the next five years Pakistan has to repay $7 billion to the IMF, whereas its current external reserves stand at $8 billion.

“So where is Pakistan going to get this money, unless it gets new money from the IMF to repay the old money that had gone from the IMF part?”

Pakistan is currently under a $3-billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), which is scheduled to expire in March-April.

On a query on what conditions Pakistan needs to fulfil to secure the next IMF programme, Baqir stated: “This time around, IMF would be looking at how to get ownership on the reform programme that is implemented.

“The first goal is going to be how does Pakistan make a more equitable tax system? How does Pakistan bring into the tax net people and privileged classes, who have avoided taxes instead of continuing to squeeze those in the middle class and the salary-earning people? How Pakistan can broaden its base?

“These are fundamental questions of ownership, and if the new government generates the ownership around the reform momentum and is less seen as dictated from above by the IMF, the chances of it being sustainable are going to be much higher,” he said.

Baqir also shared the priorities the incoming government should have to address the economic crisis.

IMF scheduled to consider first review of $3bn SBA on Jan 11

“In my view, the number one priority has to be how to protect the poor from the very high inflation that Pakistan has seen over the last couple of years. Headline inflation of around 30%, food inflation of 40%. These are unprecedented levels in decades,” he said.

“Whoever is the next finance minister should bring a cash transfer programme or a social safety net,” he said, citing the example of the Ehsaas Cash Programme launched during Covid-19 by the then government.

“The second priority is the tax effort, to have an equitable system, and the third priority has to be how to lay the lay the foundation for export-led growth, as the only way for Pakistan to meet those (payment) obligations without having to borrow more is to sustainably grow its export base,” he added.

ISLAMABAD: Millions of Pakistanis are currently voting in an election amid concerns about security as well as connectivity as the caretaker government moved to suspend mobile phone services despite growing calls to restore it.

Authorities announced just before polls opened that they had suspended mobile telephone services across the country “to maintain law and order” following a bloody election campaign – including two blasts on Wednesday that killed 28 people.

Pollsters had predicted a low turnout from the country’s nearly 129 million eligible voters following a lacklustre campaign.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is expected to win the most seats in Thursday’s vote.

Outside a polling station in Islamabad, 22-year-old psychology student Haleema Shafiq said she was determined to vote.

“I believe in democracy. I want a government that can make Pakistan safer for girls,” she told AFP.

But another voter expressed the doubts of many.

“My only fear is whether my vote will be counted for the same party I cast it for. At the same time, for the poor it does not matter who is ruling – we need a government that can control inflation,” said Syed Tassawar, a 39-year-old construction worker.

Polling stations opened at 8:00 am (0300 GMT) and were due to close at 5:00 pm, with voters already inside allowed another hour.

Officials deployed more than 650,000 army, paramilitary and police personnel to provide security for an election already marred by violence.

‘Security measures’

On Wednesday, at least 28 people were killed and more than 30 wounded by two bomb blasts outside the offices of candidates in southwestern Pakistan, in attacks claimed hours later by the Islamic State group.

A spokesman for the interior ministry said “precious lives have been lost” in recent militant attacks in Pakistan and “security measures are essential to maintain law and order situation and to deal with potential threats”.

“It has been decided to temporarily suspend the mobile service across the country,” the spokesman said in a statement.

Web watchdog organisation NetBlocks warned the suspension posed a danger to the integrity of the election.

“The practice is inherently undemocratic and is known to limit the work of independent election observers and cause irregularities in the voting process,” NetBlocks director Alp Toker told AFP.

“The ongoing election day internet blackout in Pakistan is amongst the largest we’ve observed in any country in terms of severity and extent.”

The foreign ministry said the land borders with neighbours Iran and Afghanistan would also be closed to all traffic on Thursday as a security measure.

Nearly 18,000 candidates are standing for seats in the national and four provincial assemblies, with 266 seats directly contested in the former – an additional 70 reserved for women and minorities – and 749 places in the regional parliaments.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan temporarily suspended mobile phone services on Thursday to strengthen security as voting began in the country’s national election, the interior ministry said.

The government’s decision comes amidst a rise in attacks in the run-up to the election and a day after jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan urged his supporters to wait outside polling booths after voting until results are announced.

“As a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country precious lives have been lost, security measures are essential to maintain the law and order situation and deal with possible threats, hence the temporary suspension of mobile services across the country,” the interior ministry said in a message on X.

Two blasts near election offices on Wednesday killed 26 people in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blasts in a message on its Telegram channel.

The country is on high alert with tens of thousands of troops and paramilitary soldiers on duty across the country, including at polling stations. Pakistan also said it was closing its borders with Iran and Afghanistan for the day for security purposes.

Unofficial first results in the election are expected a few hours after voting closes at 5 p.m. (1200 GMT) and a clear picture is likely to emerge early on Friday.

The main contests are expected to be between candidates backed by Imran, whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won the last national election, and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif, who is considered the front-runner.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the 35-year-old son of former premier Benazir Bhutto, has also run an aggressive campaign in an outside bid for the top office.

In spite of the bitter winter cold, long queues began forming at polling stations hours before voting was due to start. “The country is at stake, why should I come late?” said 86-year-old Mumtaz, a housewife a decade older than Pakistan itself as she queued up in Islamabad.

Businessman Imran Sheikh, 52, said he was voting for an independent candidate backed by Imran to “make it right”.

“They are trying everything in their power to make sure people don’t vote,” he said.

“But many people like me and others I know will make sure we get out and vote,” he added.

Switched places

The two former prime ministers – Imran and Nawaz – have switched places since the last election in 2018.

If the election does not result in a clear majority for anyone, as analysts are predicting, tackling multiple challenges will be tricky - foremost being seeking a new bailout programme from International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the current one expires in March.

Smaller political parties could play a crucial role in the formation of a government that will need 169 seats in the 336-member National Assembly. Voters directly elect 266 members while there are 70 reserved seats - 60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims - allotted according to the number of seats won by each party.

Independents, many of whom are being backed by Imran, are free to join any party if they win, which could swing fortunes after the vote. Imran has said his candidates will not back Sharif or Bhutto Zardari.

Pakistan voted in the country’s 12th General Elections under a bar on communication with mobile internet services disrupted and delays in the start of polling reported at several areas. Nearly 129 million Pakistanis were due to vote across 90,000 polling stations across the country amid hope that helping elect the 266 candidates would steer the country out of its current economic crisis.

Security concerns, already mounting in the face of rising terrorist attacks, were back on the forefront after the attack in Balochistan on Wednesday, and topped the list of government worries that resorted to its tried-and-tested formula of imposing a blackout on mobile internet connectivity.

The government deployed over 648,000 security personnel nationwide to ensure safety, but a drastically different political landscape played on the minds of voters.

Here is Business Recorder’s live coverage of the General Elections 2024 polling.

5:00pm

Polling ends.

5:00pm

“If you are in line at polling stations, stand your ground and demand your right to vote. It is your fundamental right,” Asif Ali Zardari’s daughter Aseefa Bhutto wrote on X.

4:55pm

“Mobile services are down due to extreme security reasons. Ensuring security is vitally important so that people turn out without fear,” the Ministry of Interior wrote on X.

3:53pm

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said the time for casting votes for general elections 2024 will not be extended.

3:44pm

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that polling for NA 245, 246, 248 and 295 had not yet started.

“There is a limit to incompetence. Fake result will not be accepted,” he wrote on X.

3:43pm

Business Recorder was informed that Karachi’s NA-248 ran out of ballot books in the women’s polling booths.

3:32pm

Karachi NA-236 PTI candidate Alamgir Khan posted on X that polling had finally begun at Askari 4.

3:08pm

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab cast his vote.

3:05pm

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja said on Thursday that he was in constant touch with the government over suspension of cellular services.

Talking to the media in Islamabad, the CEC said he was cognizant of the difficulties faced by voters due to the suspension of mobile phone services.

The CEC said people should have checked their voting details by messaging on 8300 before the polling day.

When asked if the disruption of cellular services would slow the down the voting process, he said it was too early to talk about the turnout.

3:00pm

Sindh Chief Minister House shared a post in which Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar (Retd) can be seen casting his vote at Government Boys Secondary School, Karachi.

2:40pm

Ministry of Interior’s post shows Caretaker Interior Minister Dr Gohar Ejaz visit its control room and polling station where he was briefed regarding the security situation.

2:22pm

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Hafiz Naeemur Rehman cast his vote in his North Nazimabad constituency.

2:16pm

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Barrister Syed Ali Zafar announced that on behalf of his party and public who are exercising right to vote for freedom, he has approached the Election Commission of Pakistan against mobile/internet closure.

Ensuring free and fair elections is ECP’s responsibility, he said.

2:03pm

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Siraj-ul-Haq cast his vote.

2:00pm

1:52pm

As per Business Recorder, a PTI camp in Lahore’s NA 122 was set up without any posters or banners. Next to it was the PML-N’s camp, which had banners of Khawaja Saad Rafique.

1:38pm

Business Recorder was informed that despite no rush inside Lahore’s Dar ul Hikmat High School, Kamahan NA-123, voters were made to wait outside the polling station.

1:31pm

Bilawal said his mandate cannot be given to anyone else, and that people had every right to cast their votes without any hindrance.

Speaking to media outside a polling station in Larkana, he said that the suspension of cellular services will impact voter turnout along with the security of the people if “incidents of violence were to happen.

1:27pm

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and and Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari cast their vote.

1:06pm

A resident in NA-238 says voters are getting confused over ballot papers and party symbols.

The woman, speaking to Business Recorder on Thursday morning, says there appears to be elements of ‘rigging’ in Pakistan’s 12th General Elections.

12:57pm

Pakistan Peoples Party leader Qamar Zaman Kaira cast his vote in Lala Musa.

12:37pm

PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz cast her vote.

12:36pm

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif cast his vote. He urged people to exercise their right to vote.

12:15pm

Karachi NA-236 PTI candidate Alamgir Khan in a post on X said that Gulshan Iqbal Hashmat School Abul Hasan Isfahani Road has not received the ballot paper yet.

12:01pm

President Dr Arif Alvi and his family cast their vote.

“The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has asked for your personal advice through your vote to elect representatives to the National & Provincial Assemblies. It is therefore your Islamic, constitutional and civic responsibility.

“Urge all of you to come out & exercise your right. Pakistan needs your opinion as never before,” the president wrote on X.

11:50am

Sharing her experience, a voter told Business Recorder the voting process was pretty straightforward at her polling station in Karachi’s NA 241.

“The ladies were funny though.. agents were continuously chatting with each other. One lady came out asking if her stamps were okay flapping her sheets around, another wanted help with folding the ballot.”

Another NA 241 voter “the staff at the polling station had no clue or training on how to conduct any sort of elections.”

“It was moderately frustrating. More so was phone signals being switched off. As lots of people were struggling in the morning to locate their stations and communicate with their families.”

11:48am

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senior leader Khawaja Asif cast his vote.

11:30am

Business Recorder was informed that around 250 votes were cast at Karachi’s NA 241 polling station number 6 till 11:30am.

11:00am

The Election Commission of Pakistan asked citizens to lodge election-related complaints by calling the helpline 051-111-327-000.

10:55am

A low turnout was reported at Karachi’s NA 248. When asked, Business Recorder was told that it was due to the suspension of mobile phone services as voters could not use the message service to find out details of their constituencies.

10:40am

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto demanded that mobile phone services must be restored immediately across the country.

“Have asked my party to approach both ECP and the courts for this purpose,” he wrote on X.

10:31am

In Karachi’s NA-249 Molvi Abdul Haq School polling station, wind knocked out a polling booth, Business Recorder reported.

10:14am

A security official was martyred after unidentified men opened fire at a security forces vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank area.

As per Aaj News, police said that voting was halted in Kot Azam.

10:11am

Federal Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs cast vote and urge others to do the same.

10:00am

Polling at NA 238 started an hour late. A police officer said it was because polling agents had not shown up. Business Recorder was told that the process started off chaotic with no agents and no one knowing what rooms to go to.

One female voter who managed to vote around 9:30am said the process was underway but with much confusion. She said her mother was accidentally given two provincial ballots, instead of one provincial and one national.

9:25am

Internet and mobile phone connectivity issues spread to more areas.

9:19am

Aseefa Bhutto cast her vote, urges people to do the same.

9:00am

Polling at NA-249 had not yet begun at the station.

8:54am

Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif cast vote in Lahore.

8:50am

A statement from the ministry of interior said internet and mobile phone services were shut in ‘sensitive’ areas where security risks ran high.

This is a go-to move for Pakistan authorities as they often cite security reasons for disrupting internet and mobile phone services.

8:47am

Business Recorder was informed that polling at NA-238 in Karachi was yet to get under way. Voters are queuing outside the station, but the process had not yet begun.

8:30am

Mobile broadband services were disrupted, contrary to what the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had claimed earlier.

8:20am

Several users complain of slow internet services.

8:06am

As per Aaj News, people have queued up at Karachi’s NA-234 ready to vote but polling agents are not at the polling station.

8:00am

Polls open.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday called upon the masses not to stay home at any cost on February 8 and to caste vote as their leader Imran Khan is languishing in jail to restore the country’s dignity, honour, sovereignty, and ensuring the welfare of its people.

In a special message, the party’s central information secretary Raoof Hasan, said that Imran Khan has dedicated everything including his life to the cause of restoring the country’s dignity, sovereignty and ensuring public welfare.

“As citizens, we have a debt to pay. We must use our vote to change the face of Pakistan by dismantling a rotten system that has cast a vicious stranglehold on the country and its people,” he added.

He continued that it can only be possible if the supporters of Imran Khan come out on Feb 08 to use their right to franchise in order to bring him back to power and free themselves from the clutches of slavery.

“That day is here. That moment is here. Nothing should deter you from going to the polling stations and use the power of your vote to change Pakistan so that it gets on course to realise the dream of its creation as was visualised by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah,” he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Law Enforcement Agencies put security on high alert in the federal capital and deployed over 9,000 security personnel in different areas as well as polling stations aimed to ensure the holding of safe, fair, and transparent elections in three constituencies.

A senior official of the police said that 6,500 personnel of the capital police, 1,000 Frontier Constabulary (FC), and 1,500 Rangers as well as personnel of the Pakistan Army have been deployed to hold peaceful elections in three constituencies including NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48. The city police have also set up control at Safe City Islamabad for round-the-clock monitoring of election activities.

He said that the sensitive polling stations in the city have been equipped with surveillance cameras for further enhancing security. As per the security plan, the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be implemented strictly and legal action will be taken against the violators, he said, adding that the display of weapons and firing in the air is strictly prohibited and legal action would be taken against those found involved in such crimes.

The official said that the ECP has established nearly 990 polling stations and 3,096 polling booths for elections in Islamabad. As outlined in the election plan for Islamabad, more than one million voters are expected to cast their votes across the three constituencies of the federal capital, he said.

He said that out of 990 polling stations, 551 police stations in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) have been declared normal, 135 sensitive and 304 declared highly sensitive.

An average of 12 to 15 security personnel would be deployed at 990 polling stations, he said, adding that the Quick Response Force (QRF) of the army will also be deployed at the polling stations.

The police personnel will be deployed at the first tier, Rangers, and FC at the second, and QRF of the army at the third tier.

He said that police will check voters before entering polling stations. The city police have also devised a plan for ensuring a smooth flow of traffic, he said.

The official said that the capital police further enhanced security at the Red Zone. The number of security personnel deployed at the entry and exit points has been enhanced and security personnel conducted strict checking of vehicles entering the city, he said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Nasir Akbar Khan during a meeting said that the commitment to upholding the election commission’s regulations and taking swift legal actions against any breaches underlines the dedication to a fair and secure democratic process. As the nation geared up for the 2024 elections, these proactive security measures reflect a concerted effort to maintain order, promote transparency, and safeguard the rights of citizens in the heart of the country’s political landscape, he said.

The IGP said that the police will facilitate media and international observers on the Election Day to help them perform their duties.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has pitched 14 candidates for the National Assembly seats and 30 for the Punjab Assembly seats in the provincial capital for General Elections 2024.

All these candidates are contesting the elections as independent candidates, but are backed by the PTI. The party had lost the party symbol, the bat, after the Election Commission of Pakistan nullified the party’s intra-party elections.

The party had approached the apex court for the restoration of party symbol, but the appeal was turned down. Later, all the PTI-backed independent candidates were allotted different electoral symbols by the Election Commission.

Fourteen candidates backed by the PTI are contesting elections from different constituencies of Lahore for the seats in the National Assembly. The PTI has pitched Ali Ijaz Buttar from NA-117 constituency, Alia Hamza from NA-118, Shahzad Farooq from NA-119, Usman Hamza in NA-120, Waseem Qadir in NA-121, Barrister Latif Khosa in NA-122, Afzal Karim in NA-123, Zameer Jhedo Advocate in NA-124, Rana Javed Umar in NA-125, Malik Tauqeer Khokhar from NA-126, Zaheer Khokhar in NA-127, Salman Akram Raja in NA-128, Mian Muhammad Azhar in NA-129 and Dr Yasmeen Rashid in NA-130.

Moreover, the PTI has backed 30 independent candidates for the seats of Punjab Assembly: Yasir Gilani in PP-145, Junaid Razzak Advocate in PP-146, Mohammad Khan Madni in PP-147, G. M Dewan in PP-148, Hafiz Zeeshan in PP-149, Abdul Karim Khan in PP-150, Hammad Awan Advocate in PP-151, Nouman Majeed in PP-152, Mian Awais Anjum in PP-153, Shakeel Ahmad Sindhu in PP-154, Sheikh Imtiaz in PP-155, Ali Imtiaz Warraich in PP-156, Hafiz Farhat Abbas in PP-157, Chaudhry Yusaf Ali in PP-158, Mehar Sharafat Ali in PP-159, Azam Niazi in PP-160, Farrukh Javed Moon in PP-161, Shabbir Gujjar in PP-162, Azeem Ullah Khan Advocate in PP-163, Yusaf Mayo in PP-164, Ahmer Bhatti in PP-165, Khalid Mehmood Gujjar in PP-166, Ammar Bashir Gujjar in PP-167, Nadeem Abbas Basra in PP-168, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed in PP-169, Haroon Akbar in PP-170, Mian Aslam Iqbal in PP-171, Mrs Mehar Wajid in PP-172, Zubair Niazi in PP-173 and Chaudhry Asghar Gujjar in PP-174.

In NA 130, Yasmin Rashid, former Punjab health minister in the Usman Buzdar government, is contesting against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from inside the jail who is facing cases related to the May 9 incident. Moreover, the PTI has pitched Shahzad Farooq against PML-N Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz. In NA 128, PTI-backed candidate Salman Akram Raja, a senior lawyer, is contesting his first elections against the PML-N and Istakam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) joint candidate Aun Chaudhry. After seat adjustment with the IPP, the PML-N did not field its candidate in the constituency.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

LAHORE: Punjab Police has completed its security arrangements and preparations for the peaceful conduct of General Elections 2024. Police teams have taken over duty points in all the districts of the province including Lahore.

IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar said that more than 130,000 officers and personnel of Punjab Police are deputed for election security. Along with district police, officers and personnel of all field formations including Dolphin, PRU, Punjab Constabulary, Special Branch and CTD will perform security duties.

IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar said the installation of more than 32,000 CCTV cameras has been completed for monitoring the election process.

IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar said the strict compliance of election Commission’s code of conduct was being ensured; indiscriminate actions were being taken against those responsible for violation of the Election Code of Conduct, Section 144, Arms display etc.

IG Punjab said strict action would be ensured against elements involved in aerial firing at polling stations, fighting and sabotaging the election process. Additional personnel, Dolphin Force and other teams including Quick Response will be deployed at 5,577 highly sensitive polling stations, he added.

Dr Usman Anwar said that a strict monitoring process was going on at the border check posts to stop anti-national and evil elements.

IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar said the police officers were in full contact with all institutions including security agencies, armed forces, district administration, adding close monitoring of security arrangements was ongoing from provincial, regional, divisional, and CPO control rooms.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

FAISALABAD: On the special directives of the Ministry of Energy, Power Division and Government of Pakistan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) FESCO Muhammad Amir has established a special monitoring cell to ensure the uninterrupted power supply in eight districts of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company FESCO region on election day so that voters could perform their national obligation efficiently.

All Chief Engineers of FESCO region are in contact with Returning Officers (ROs) in the districts of Faisalabad, Jhang, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Chiniot, Bhakkar and Toba Tek Singh under the jurisdiction of FESCO to coordinate and ensure the uninterrupted supply of electricity to the all polling stations.

Engineer Muhammad Amir has issued special directives to Superintending Engineers (SEs) of all operation circles and has said that uninterrupted supply of electricity will be provided throughout the region on Election Day in the FESCO region. He said that all the arrangements have been completed.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024