Pakistan temporarily suspends mobile services nationwide for general elections
With results from Pakistan’s election trickling in slower than normal, candidates backed by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party appeared to be doing better than expected, as he was seen neck-and-neck with the favourite Nawaz Sharif.
Preliminary election results normally emerge within a few hours in Pakistan but were hit by long delays overnight, only adding to existing fears of poll rigging.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced results of just eight of the 265 contested seats in parliament on its website by morning.
Mr Sharif’s PML-N is leading in four seats while members of Mr Khan’s PTI party who ran as independents won three seats, and the Pakistan Peoples Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari got just one.
The election commission cited an unspecified “internet issue” for the long delay of more than 13 hours of counting the votes as the PTI party alleged that the “overwhelming mandate of the people of Pakistan is being stolen”.
Yesterday polls opened from 8am to 5pm for more than 128 million registered voters, amid a blackout of mobile network and data services and accusations of rigging and unfair conditions for members of Mr Khan’s party.
Poll-related violence and terrorist attacks left at least 40 people dead over the course of Wednesday and Thursday, across a series of incidents.
Any party needs 133 seats in parliament for a simple majority but many analysts believe the vote may not produce a clear winner.
Imran Khan’s PTI party candidates began early celebration
Members of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s candidates broke into celebration early morning as early results showed surprise victory on three seats.
The PTI party said that every independent result showed “PTI [is] winning by a landslide” and decried delays in counting of votes, raising fears of vote rigging.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2024 05:30
Human Rights Council of Pakistan says delays in results ‘violation of human rights’
The Lahore-based Human Rights Council of Pakistan said the delays in counting indicate an attempt is being made to “change the results against the citizens’ opinion”.
It is “a violation of basic human rights”, it said, adding that the Election Commission is not announcing the full results.
“There are fears that the candidates who were winning by huge margins till last night, the results of all these seats were withheld and all the polling agents were forced out of the offices of ROs (Returning Officers),” it added.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2024 05:10
PTI candidates lead by 5 seats leaving Nawaz Sharif’s party behind
Pakistan’s election council has announced results of 14 assembly seats and Imran Khan’s PTI party candidates are now leading in five seats.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N are in a tie with four seats each.
- 5 – PTI candidates
- 4 – PPP
- 4 – PML-N
Shweta Sharma9 February 2024 04:42
UN chief urges ‘refrain from the use of violence’ ahead of results
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern about violence in Pakistan and the suspension of mobile communications services on election day in the South Asian nation, his spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
“As Pakistan awaits the results of the elections, the secretary-general encourages all political leaders and society segments to maintain a calm atmosphere, as well as refrain from the use of violence and any actions that could increase tensions,” US spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
“It is important for all candidates and supporters to ensure that human rights and the rule of law are fully respected in the interest of the Pakistani people and (to) resolve any disputes that might arise through established legal procedures,” the spokesperson added.
Internet and phone services were snapped in Pakistan as people head out to cast their votes.
Earlier this week, the UN human rights office denounced violence against political parties and candidates in the lead-up to Thursday’s vote.
It particularly voiced concern over the “pattern of harassment, arrests and prolonged detentions of leaders and supporters” of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) party.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2024 04:15
Vote counting hit by delays as opposition political parties raise concerns
The vote counting in Pakistan has been delayed by more than 13 hours now as political parties waited in anticipation of the results of the high-stakes elections.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said “internet issues” were holding up the process.
In Pakistan, voting is still conducted through ballot papers and voters mark their choice by placing a tick or a thumb stamp next to the name and symbol of their preferred candidate.
The ballot papers are then counted manually once the voting is concluded.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2024 04:02
ICYMI: What you need to know about candidates, key issues and what this election means for the country
Pakistan‘s 127 million voters get to elect a new parliament today. The elections are the twelfth in the country’s 76-year history, which has been marred by economic crises, military takeovers and martial law, militancy, political upheavals and wars with India.
Forty-four political parties are vying for a share of the 266 seats that are up for grabs in the National Assembly, or the lower house of parliament, with an additional 70 seats reserved for women and minorities.
Matt Mathers9 February 2024 04:00
ICYMI: Google Doodle marks Pakistan’s 2024 national elections
Matt Mathers9 February 2024 03:30
Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan’s PTI neck-and-neck as results trickle in
As results are being announced for 265 National Assembly seats, jailed prime minister Imran Khan’s candidates have claimed a shock victory “by a landslide” – though it is still too early to confirm either way.
Three-time premier Nawaz Sharif’s party Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), which was widely expected to win, has won four seats so far.
The Pakistan Peoples Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto, grabbed just one seat and PTI’s candidates – who were forced to run as independents – won the other three.
The PTI party said: “Every independent result showed PTI winning by a landslide”. But it decried the delays and said attempts were being made to steal the election.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2024 03:28
ICYMI: Taliban ‘controlling polling stations’ in northwest Pakistan, claims party leader
The Taliban’s fighters have been seen in northwest Pakistan’s North Waziristan where a local party leader has said they are issuing threats to the locals and polling staff.
“Militants have been issuing threats to the locals and to the polling staff. Three of our female polling agents very narrowly escaped attacks in the polling station in Government Middle School Wresham Jan Kot, GHS Tappi and GPS Awal Khan Kot in the morning of the polling day on the 8 February,” said Mohsin Dawar, central chairman of National Democratic Movement.
“The Taliban in the area have taken control of the polling stations. I had written a letter to the concerned DRO about the security situation in Tappi but my letter was ignored,” he wrote in a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
He added that the region has seen tense security situation for months now, including an attack on him.
Matt Mathers9 February 2024 03:00
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