[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

[ghazi]

Pakistan has fifth-highest number of registered voters in world: report​

The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Published February 1, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The unprecedented surge in the number of voters has made Pakistan fifth largest democracy in the world trailing India, Indonesia, United States of America and Brazil.

This is also the first time that Pakistan registered more women voters as compared to men in-between two elections.

This was disclosed by a Fafen Report, titled “Electoral Rolls, General Election 2024” released here on Wednesday.

The report says that with the fifth-highest number of registered voters globally, Pakistan has a record 128.5 million people, constituting over half of its total population, registered as voters on the Final Electoral Rolls (FER) for the upcoming Feb 8 elections, marking a substantial increase of 22.5 million voters, including 12.5 million women, added since 2018.

Fafen calls for efforts to alleviate under-registration of young women

Presently, it says, the number of registered voters constitutes 53.2 per cent of the 241.49 million population. Nevertheless, there are regional disparities in voter-to-population ratios, with Punjab (57 per cent) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (53 per cent) registering over half of their populations as voters. Sindh and Islamabad have voter-to-population ratios close to 50 per cent, while Balochistan lags behind with 36 per cent population registered as voters.

The voter-to-population ratio can be indicative of potential under-registration with a caveat. The ratio only accounts for voters registered in their native districts and not those who are registered as voters on their temporary addresses outside their native districts.

At the district and constituency levels, the disparity in voter proportions becomes increasingly apparent. Among the 136 districts analysed by Fafen, 78 have more than half of their populations registered as voters, while nine districts, including Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, Kohistan Palas, Kech, Kharan, Panjgur, Sherani, Surab and Washuk, have less than 30 per cent population registered.

A comparable trend is noted at the National Assembly constituency level, with 159 out of 266 constituencies registering over 50 per cent of their populations as voters. The registration of women has experienced an unprecedented increase since 2018, following the implementation of special measures introduced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in accordance with Section 47 of the Elections Act, 2017.

 

[ghazi]

Election 2024: Students rejoice mid-season 9-day holiday​

All educational institutions will practically remain closed throughout the country from Feb 3 to Feb 11

News Desk
February 01, 2024

As the nation prepares for the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, students across Pakistan, on the other hand, are rejoicing after being granted a mid-season nine-day holiday.

On Thursday, the Sindh Education Department announced that all private and public schools, colleges, and universities will remain closed from February 6 to February 9.

The government has already declared February 5 as a public holiday in observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day. Furthermore, February 10 and 11, being the weekend, will provide additional days off for students.

The decision to grant leave during this period has been approved by Sindh's Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Bakar, citing the upcoming general elections.

 

[ghazi]

Politics of disenfranchisement: Why Pakistan’s youth no longer believes in the sanctity of the vote​

With a barrage of challenges awaiting the incoming government, Pakistan’s cyclical dystopia perseveres. Another meaningless election. Another debilitated government. Another divided house. And round and round we go.

Faiq Zafar
February 2, 2024
“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing truly dies.” — Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption

For Rehan Shamsi, 61, hope is a double-edged sword. A seasoned participant in Pakistan’s tumultuous political history, Rehan was but a 25-year-old engineering student in Karachi when the death knell sounded on General Ziaul Haq’s decade-long stint at the country’s helm.

Amid cheers of hope and merriment, Benazir Bhutto assumed the reins of power in the winter of 1988 — an event considered to be a critical inflection point in the country’s long, agonising crusade to democracy. It seemed the sun had finally dawned on a people downtrodden by decades of shattered promises and dead aspirations.

“I don’t think today’s generation understands the optimism that permeated the air in ’88. It was a genuine moment of hope. I know it sounds idealistic now, but you have to understand where we were,” reminisced Rehan. An active member of the National Students Federation and a worker of the Qaumi Mahaz-e-Azadi Party in the 80s, he vehemently believed in and campaigned for Benazir’s Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD).

 

[ghazi]

Lower-caste Hindus see greater presence​

About a dozen Hindus participating in elections from Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas divisions

Sameer Mandhro
February 02, 2024

KARACHI: Lower-caste Hindus in Pakistan are carving a niche for themselves in the political arena, boldly stepping into the electoral fray on general seats.

The surge in participation is particularly pronounced in the Mirpur Khas division, home to districts such as Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, and Tharparkar, where a majority population of non-Muslims, especially Hindus, resides

About a dozen Hindus are participating in elections from Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions, with a key focus on NA-215 Mithi, NA-213 Umerkot, and PS-45 Mirpurkhas. Notably, all three candidates in these constituencies are up against Muslim opponents.

In NA-215 Mithi, PPP’s Mahesh Kumar Malani, who secured victory in the general elections 2018, faces Arbab Ghulam Rahim, a prominent leader of the GDA and former chief minister of Sindh. Local analysts believe Malani, with Hindu voter dominance, is well-positioned to defeat his archrival.

"Malani is a public figure and knows how to maintain a strong connection with the masses," Sajid Bajeer, a journalist based in Mithi, said.In Mirpur Khas’s PS-45, Seth Hari Ram Kishori holds a favourable position despite contending against a Muslim candidate from an upper caste – Syed.

Lower-caste Hindus see greater presence | The Express Tribune

About a dozen Hindus participating in elections from Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas divisions

tribune.com.pk

 

[ghazi]

80 percent polling stations in Balochistan declared ‘sensitive’: minister​

Balochistan’s Interior Minister Zubair Jamali has said that over 80 per cent of polling stations in the province have been categorised as “sensitive,” with 34pc marked as “highly sensitive.”

Only 19pc of polling stations in Balochistan have been identified “normal”, the minister said in an interview with Dawn News programme “Doosra Rukh”.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Balochistan government has also barred political parties from holding rallies and corner meetings.

 

[ghazi]

ECP completes training of 1.49m officials for Feb 8 polls​

The Election Commission of Pakistan says it has completed the training of approximately 1.49 million electoral staff members for the successful conduct of Feb 8 general elections.

In a statement, the ECP spokesperson stated that a total of 27,676 training sessions, engaging 3,821 trainers, were conducted over a span of 87 days.

It said the commission trained approximately 5,000 officers and data entry operators (DEOs) through 148 training sessions before integrating them with the returning officers.

 

[ghazi]

K-P gearing up for an interesting election​

WISAL YOUSAFZAI
FEB 03, 2024

PTI seems to be the party to beat in the province, however its legal troubles will aid the likes of JUI-F
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455372/k-p-gearing-up-for-an-interesting-election

 

[Old School]

It is going to be "General Selection 2024". It's not a general election in its true sense.

 

[ghazi]

Please don't laugh ..
.........

Will not rest until Pakistan becomes stable: Nawaz​

NEWS DESK
|
Ex-PM claims the country’s youth is with him and not with those who only create negativity on social media

 

[ghazi]

Nawaz wants to ‘rob’ people of their rights by forming ‘puppet’ govt: Bilawal​

PPP chairman claims to be only political leader seeking votes directly from people, rather than from 'elsewhere'

News Desk
February 03, 2024

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressing a rally in Tharparkar on February 3, 2024. PHOTO: PPP MEDIA CELL

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday accused former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of “robbing” people of their rights by attempting to form a “puppet” government, a term he extensively used against another former prime minister Imran Khan during his tenure as premier.

 

[ghazi]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) concluded on Saturday all preparations for the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8 (Thursday).

Over 120 million registered voters are poised to exercise their democratic right by casting votes for the national and four provincial assemblies.

The ECP has established a network of 90,675 polling stations spanning across all four provinces. Among these, 41,403 are combined polling stations, while 25,320 cater specifically to male voters, and 23,952 are designated for female voters.

A diverse pool of candidates, totalling 5,121, are vying for seats in the National Assembly. This includes 4,807 male candidates, 312 female candidates, and two transgender candidates.

The upcoming elections will take place for 266 general seats in the National Assembly and 593 general seats across the four provincial assemblies.

ECP finalises poll staff’s training

Additionally preparations for the upcoming general elections in Rawalpindi have reached a significant milestone with the training of 26,150 selected polling staff.

In a directive from the district returning officer, it has been emphasised that telephone and internet connections be promptly installed at the 2,671 designated polling stations across Rawalpindi. School heads have been instructed to coordinate with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) officials for immediate meetings to ensure swift installations.

By February 6, all polling stations are expected to have operational official telephone lines and internet connections, with heads reporting relevant details to the Election Commission of Pakistan on February 7.

District Returning Officer (DRO) Hasan Waqar Cheema shared that a total of 2,671 presiding officers, 13,872 assistant presiding officers, 6,936 polling officers, and 2,672 naib qasids have been appointed for the elections, covering 2,671 polling stations and 6,936 polling booths in Rawalpindi.

To facilitate the distribution of polling boxes and stationery, all returning officers are summoned to the offices of presiding and polling officers at 10am on February 7.

 

[ghazi]

ECP disqualifies Shah Mahmood Qureshi for 5 years following cipher conviction​

The Election Commission of Pakistan has disqualified PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi for five years after his conviction in the cipher case.

In a notification issued today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the commission barred him from the upcoming February 8 general elections as well as “any subsequent elections for a period of five years”.

It added that he was disqualified under Article 63(1h) of the Constitution, read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017.

 

[ghazi]

Jahangir Tareen — looking to fulfil the promise of ‘Naya Pakistan’?​

During his election campaign, Tareen has vowed to fulfil the promise of introducing ‘Naya Pakistan’.

 

[ghazi]

Jahangir Tareen — looking to fulfil the promise of ‘Naya Pakistan’?​

During his election campaign, Tareen has vowed to fulfil the promise of introducing ‘Naya Pakistan’.

View attachment 1969

He should also wear this..
Discount for him......................

 

[ghazi]

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Saturday called out the MQM and PPP for their electoral plans through “chaos” in the metropolis in a bid to gain “political mileage”, saying that it is crucial on the election stage.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the JI Karachi Chief told reporters that “the JI stands pivotal in making of the government in Sindh and the center.”

He vowed that his party will stick to the Karachi Declaration for the progress and development of Karachi and elsewhere in Sindh, saying that after being elected to power, the JI will introduce healthcare cards for the citizens.