[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

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ECP has power to take back electoral symbols from political parties, rules LHC​

• Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan issued an 18-page verdict

NNI
February 4, 2024

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday ruled that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) hhe power to take back electoral symbol from political parties.

The LHC issued a written judgement dismissing the petition filed against ECP’s power to take back election symbols from political parties. Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan issued an 18-page verdict.

The court ruled that Section 215 of the Election Act 2017 was not against the Constitution. The court further said Election Act 2017’s Section 215 was not against Constitution in light of Articles 9, 14, 17 and others.

 

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ECP completes printing of 260m ballot papers for all constituencies​

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has successfully completed printing of 260 million ballot papers for all constituencies in the country, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

According to the ECP spokesman, National Assembly ballots are printed on green paper while those for the provincial assembly are printed on white paper.

 

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Pakistan’s electoral system — an illusion of true representation​

Winning parties often mirror only a fraction of registered voters, leaving the fate of the majority hanging in the balance. Urgent reforms, including compulsory voting, are required to restore true democracy and represent the will of the people.

Javed Jabbar
February 5, 2024
The brazen tactics — by the triumvirate of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the caretaker federal and provincial governments Punjab in particular and the judiciary (with only some exceptions), backed by the euphemism known as the establishment — are in full public view for anyone who wants to see.

Consequently, a major political party, PTI, is being prevented from formal participation, while its leader, a former prime minister has been convicted in three different cases over the last one week alone. This is only one reason why the upcoming polls will be yet another non-representative expression of the Pakistani people’s political views. At the same time, I would love to be proved wrong.

At the outset, let this be noted: this writer is not a member of the PTI. In fact, on several instances, I have completely disagreed with the PTI’s decisions and policies. Yet, the way in which major political parties and other institutions have acted against the PTI, just before April 2022 and after, violates irreducible norms of fairness, decency, and impartiality.

Notwithstanding the bizarre, reprehensible actions of some elements on May 9, 2023 — still not independently investigated and verified — the victimisation of PTI, as also the unrelated, yet contextually pertinent disregard for the ongoing protests in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan are sources of profound unease, be they directly or indirectly related to the subject of this reflection.

Non-representative polls​

Notwithstanding the above, one of the principal reasons for the persistent anomaly of electoral systems and results over the last 53 years is that in six out of 11 general elections, the average voter turnout has stood at around 45 per cent. This means that more than half of the eligible voters in the country never recorded their preferences.

Meanwhile, in the five other elections, though the turnout was over 50pc, it never reached a two-third majority or more — a reasonably representative, though not complete portrait of reality.

In this writer’s view, the minimal turnout to validate an election should be at least 75pc, which is equivalent to the margin required to make a constitutional amendment in most democracies.

In other South Asian countries, on average in the recent past, though just two countries’ turnouts have reached over 75pc, only Afghanistan with 35-40pc was lower than Pakistan. Sri Lanka and the Maldives stood at 78pc, with Nepal at 69pc, and India and Bhutan at 66pc. Even Iran in West Asia managed 60pc.

Various factors shape voter turnout, the leading one being faith in the integrity of the electoral system followed by convenient access to polling stations (to be fair to Pakistan, one estimate claims that the average voter — the majority — can reach their respective polling station in about 10 minutes from their place of residence).

Other factors include conditions of law and order in and around polling locations, sheer apathy or lack of confidence in available choices, prejudice against women casting votes, and many more. All of these, collectively or individually, have contributed to Pakistan’s low voter turnout rates.

Pakistan’s electoral system — an illusion of true representation

Winning parties often mirror only a fraction of registered voters, leaving the fate of the majority hanging in the balance. Urgent reforms, including compulsory voting, are required to restore true democracy and represent the will of the people.

www.dawn.com

 

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Pakistan’s general elections are scheduled for February 8, and for some it will be their first time casting a vote. For our readers, Business Recorder is breaking down the steps in order to make the exercise easier and simpler.

Here are a few things to consider before casting your ballot.

To prevent confusion on election day, it is wise to find out where you will cast your ballot in advance.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has introduced a text message service that enables you to find out your constituency in order to address this.

Text your National Identity Card (NIC) number to 8300, making sure to include all digits without spaces or dashes.

You will receive the block code, serial number, and name of the electoral region once you have mailed in your CNIC.

Read the complete details here

Bringing your CNIC to the polling place is essential. Even if you bring photocopies and other documents, you will not be allowed inside.

Please reconsider if you were about to snap a picture or a selfie while voting. Bringing a cellphone is not permitted at all. Leave your phone at home or in a secure location.

After leaving the polling place, however, you can snap a photo of your thumb that has the specific ink applied to it.

Voting will take place from 8:00 am to 6:00pm. To avoid a long queue, try to arrive early on during the day.

Wait for your time in the queue, and the presiding officer will verify that your name and electoral number are listed.

After calling it out, the officer will mark it off the list to let you know that you have been given two ballots.

If you forget to look for the presiding officer’s signature and stamp on the back of both papers, your vote won’t be accepted.

There will be two ballots provided to you. The white voting paper is for the provincial parliament; the green ballot paper is for the national assembly.

After that, the presiding officer will imprint your thumb impression on the electoral rolls using a unique, non-erasable ink. This will be done to demonstrate that you’ve used your right to vote.

This portion of the ballot paper will be retained by the presiding officers for their records.

Make sure the ballot papers have:

• ECP’s watermark
• Official nine-matrix seal
• Not a paper or anything else attached to it
• Does not have stamps on more than one candidate’s election symbols

After that, you’ll be led to a polling place. Verify that no one else is present or trying to get you to cast a vote for a certain entity.

Make sure the ink is dry before properly folding the ballot papers once you have stamped both of them.

Proceed to the voting booths and insert the green ballot paper into the green-topped box and the white ballot paper into the white-topped box.

 

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Bilawal vows to change Karachi’s fortune in five years if PPP elected​

PPP chairman says city will be given representation it deserves in Sindh cabinet

News Desk
February 05, 2024

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressing a rally in Karachi on February 5, 2024. PHOTO: PPP MEDIA CELL

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday stated that if the people of Karachi elected PPP candidates from at least 20 National Assembly seats, the city’s landscape will change within five years.

The Pakistan’s financial capital 22 and 47 national and provincial assembly seats,

 

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'Imran not on ballot, but still on Pakistan’s mind'​

Ex-PM remains wildly popular among his supporters who grew up watching him win matches from impossible situations

AFP
February 05, 2024

Former prime minister Imran Khan, gestures as he speaks to the members of the media at his residence in Lahore May 18, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS

His name may not be on the ballot, but former prime minister Imran Khan will be on the country's mind as Pakistan votes in an election this week that observers say is deeply flawed without his participation.

The former international cricket star has been given three lengthy prison sentences in under a week and been banned from politics for 10 years -- officially excluding him from an election it never looked like he would be allowed to contest.

Khan enjoyed popular support when he became prime minister in 2018, but was booted from power in April 2022 by a no-confidence vote.

He then waged a risky and unprecedented campaign of defiance, but when his supporters trashed an army commander's HQ last May after his first arrest, it was the final straw.

 

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No home, no vote: Flood victims far removed from polling process​

RAZZAK ABRO

Displaced affectees with missing CNIC’s will be unable to cast their votes in the upcoming elections

 

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Democratic exercise : Election day turnout in K-P may dwindle​

AIHTESHAM KHAN

Terrorism threat, cold weather, and crackdown on PTI will discourage voters from showing up

 

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2 militants killed in North Waziristan IBO: ISPR​

Iftikhar Shirazi
February 6, 2024

Two terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Tuesday.

According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted an IBO last night on the reported presence of terrorists.

“During the conduct of operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists, as a result of which two terrorists were sent to hell, including terrorist ring leader Ayubullah Mansoor,” the ISPR said.

It added that weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the militants who “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities, including targeted killing as well as extortion and abduction of innocent civilians”.

 

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Petition in IHC seeks action against political parties for failing to allocate 5pc tickets to women​

A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking action against political parties for failing to ensure allocation of five per cent tickets to women candidates on general seats under the provisions of Section 206 of the Elections Act, 2017.

As per the petition filed by Aurat Foundation, it was revealed that only PML-N and MQM-P allocated over 5pc of their tickets to women for 266 National Assembly seats, while other political parties failed to meet this requirement.


Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC has issued notice to the ECP, seeking its response by tomorrow (Feb 7).

 

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143,156 policemen, volunteers to be deployed for election security in Sindh​

Sindh police have prepared a contingency plan for the forthcoming general election on Feb 8 under which 143,156 police personnel and volunteers would be deployed for the security of all polling stations, buildings, polling material etc. across the province.

According to a report submitted to the IGP Sindh Riffat Mukhtar Raja, there are a total of 14,052 polling buildings and 19,008 polling stations categorised as the most sensitive, sensitive and normal.

The report said there were a total of 6,801 most sensitive, 6,550 sensitive and 5,657 normal polling stations.

Out of a total of 143,156 policemen/volunteers, 95,400 would be deployed for security of polling stations, 10,648 personnel would be part of the “quick response force” while 37,108 would be volunteers/private security guards who would perform security duty.

 

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How do national elections in Pakistan work?​

Pakistan goes to the polls on Thursday in a widely watched national election that will lead to the formation of a new government to lead the crisis-ridden country for the next five years.

Here are some facts about how the electoral system works in Pakistan:

Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy and voting will take place for seats in the federal legislature, called the National Assembly, and four provincial legislatures.

• 128 million Pakistanis out of a population of 241m are eligible to vote — all those above 18.
• On election day, voters will cast their ballots for two legislators to represent their constituency — one federally and the other provincially.
• There are 5,121 candidates contesting for the federal legislature and 12,695 for the provinces.
• The National Assembly consists of 336 seats - 266 are decided through direct voting on polling day, while 70 reserved seats — 60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims — are allotted according to the strength of each party in the house.
• Victorious candidates become members of the National Assembly. Independent candidates have the option to join any party after the elections.
• Once constituted, the NA holds a parliamentary vote to select a leader of the house, who becomes the premier.
• A successful candidate must show a simple majority in the house — that is, the support of at least 169 members.
• Once a prime ministerial candidate wins the vote in the NA, they are sworn in as prime minister.
• The new prime minister picks cabinet ministers, who form the federal government.
• A similar process is followed at the provincial level to pick a chief minister and a provincial government.

 

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Election campaigning to end tonight​

Tuesday night marks the end of election campaigns nationwide, providing voters with the opportunity to thoroughly contemplate their choices before voting for their favored candidates in both the national and provincial assemblies, APP reports.

According to election regulations, campaigning will cease precisely at midnight on the night between February 6 and 7.

The ECP cautions that candidates engaging in political activities after the deadline will face legal consequences. Additionally, the ECP appeals to the media and the public to collaborate for a free, fair, and transparent election process.

 

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275 women to contest upcoming elections on general seats​

In the upcoming general elections, 275 women from various political parties will be contesting the general seats, Associated Press of Pakistan reports.

According to Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen), 111 political parties have nominated 275 women candidates to contest the upcoming elections on general seats, making up for 4.6 per cent of the total of 6,037 candidates they have fielded.

Fafen’s analysis is based on the List of Contesting Candidates (Form-33) for National and Provincial Assemblies.

It states that out of 111 political parties, 30 parties have fielded five or more than 5pc women on general seats, while four political parties have fielded between 4.5pc and 4.9pc of women candidates on general seats (that is statistically rounded up to 5pc), and the remaining 77 have fielded up to 4.5pc women candidates on general seats.

 

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He himself is laughing.....​

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Youth crucial for making Pakistan ‘Asian Tiger’: Nawaz​

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif said that if his government had not been overthrown in 2017, all the citizens in the country would have been provided employment opportunities.

Speaking at a rally in Kasur, Nawaz expressed his vision for Pakistan to reclaim its status as an “Asian Tiger,” adding that the youth would help achieve this goal.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif addresses a rally in Kasur.