[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

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NA-241 Karachi South-III

Dr Farooq Sattar of the MQM-P is up against the PTI’s Karachi president, Khurram Sher Zaman, and the PPP’s Mirza Ikhtiyar Baig for NA-241. In 2018, Dr Farooq Sattar contested the election in a Karachi East constituency but lost to the late Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, who contested on behalf of the PTI. Khurram Sher Zaman had won a provincial seat from Karachi in 2018 and is contesting an NA election for the first time.

Dr Sattar is also a candidate for Karachi’s NA-244, where another former PTI MNA, Aftab Jahangir, won in 2018.

NA-261 Surab-cum-Kalat-cum-Mastung

An interesting triangular contest is expected between the political heavyweights in this constituency. Sardar Sanaullah Zehri is in the race, this time on a PPP ticket, against the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, and JUI-F General Secretary Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri.

Once a close confidant of Nawaz Sharif and Sardar of the Zehri tribe, Sanaullah served as chief minister of Balochistan from Dec 2015 to Dec 2017. He resigned from the office to avoid a vote of no confidence and joined the PPP in August 2021 after developing differences with his party’s leadership.

In 2018, Sanaullah could only secure 7,152 votes and came in fifth position on this seat, which was won by Syed Mehmood Shah of the JUI-F with 26,711 votes. Sanaullah had been a runner-up in 2008 when the seat was won by Ayatullah Durrani of the PPP.

On the other hand, Sardar Akhtar Mengal won an NA seat in 2018 from Khuzdar with over 23,000 votes, defeating Khalid Bizenjo of the BAP. The same year, however, he had lost the election for the Lasbela-cum-Gawadar constituency to an independent, Aslam Bhootani.

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri emerged victorious in this constituency in the 2002 elections and was the runner-up in the 2013 elections. However, he did not take part in the 2018 elections. He was elected MNA from Kalat for the first time in 1993.

NA-263 Quetta-II

There are a record 46 candidates, including 27 independents, in NA-263. Because so many political bigwigs are in the running, it is difficult to make predictions about this constituency.

PkMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who lost the 2018 elections from two different constituencies in Balochistan, is up against Rubina Irfan of the BAP, Rozi Khan Kakar of the PPP, and Haji Lashkari Raisani, who is contesting the polls as an independent. This time, Achakzai has secured the backing of the JUI-F in return for supporting Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Pishin.

Lashkari Raisani is the younger brother of former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani. He resigned as PPP Balochistan president in April 2012 and joined the PML-N in March 2013. He has previously served as a provincial minister in the Balochistan cabinet and also as a senator during a PPP-led government in the centre. In 2018, he contested the elections for an NA seat from Quetta on a BNP ticket but lost to the PTI’s Qasim Khan Suri. Mr Raisani later challenged the results on the basis of the large number of votes that were rejected.

Mr Suri, who went on to become deputy speaker of the NA, remained a lawmaker till his resignation because the court never decided the petition.

Rubina Irfan was an MNA in the last assembly on a reserved seat but has also served as a senator on the PML-Q ticket. Rozi Kakar served as a PPP senator from 2012 to 2018.

 

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Selling change​

Does Imran Khan’s election campaign strategy mirror Donald Trump’s?

TALHA BIN HAMID
“This election will decide whether we are ruled by a corrupt political class. You’re seeing what’s happening. Everybody’s watching. Or whether we are ruled by the people. We’re going to be ruled by the people... That is going to be the choice. A failed political establishment has delivered nothing but poverty, nothing but problems, nothing but losses.”
Do you remember when Imran Khan spoke those words? If you have trouble remembering the precise moment, you are not alone. Khan used these phrases and ideas throughout the 2018 election campaign, ultimately leading his party – and himself – to power.

But look again. This is not Khan at all. This is Donald Trump, November 7, 2016. Surprised?

“Change” (or, more popularly, tabdeeli) has been PTI’s mantra for the past six years. Khan’s personal charm, along with slick and professional media campaigns, have kept this idea alive and well with the public.

The media onslaught has been smart and sophisticated. From ever-catchier jingles, to iconic graphic design work, to the ‘branding’ of each initiative taken by the party (for example, the wheel jam strike in 2014 had the tagline “Shutdown to rebuild”), to attractive election posters with stylised portraits, PTI’s marketing campaign has consistently been savvy and dynamic.

The promise was and remains bold: PTI would wipe the slate clean of the corrupt ways of political administration and bring real change. The biggest USP of the PTI remains this: neither the party nor the leader have ever been in power on a national level. This and this alone, has helped paper over a lot of inconsistencies between the message and reality.

Moreover, thanks to the impact of the election campaign, PTI fans still believe. Even those who did not necessarily align themselves with PTI politically are cautiously hopeful. Khan’s strong and consistent campaign has been relentless and on-brand without fail. The campaign has been run like a well-oiled machine with an obvious professional touch that has elevated it above those by other parties; the ideals of governance laid down are clear and unambiguous.

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Returning for a moment to Trump, his campaign strategy was focused on two catchphrases: “Make America Great Again” and “Draining the Swamp”. The first message was that US was not functioning to its peak potential due to policies adopted by Trump’s predecessors and the political administration was a ‘swamp’ riddled by a lack of transparency and corruption. It seems that the playbook has been adapted by the PTI.​

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Over time, with the evolution of PTI’s politics, the message has shifted in tone slightly. The party focused on enlisting fresh, untested faces in the 2013 elections, reinforcing the brand identity. However, in the intervening five years, two key developments in the political climate took place.

Firstly, PTI held a government in KP and its performance there came under scrutiny. Being part of the political machine for five years meant that PTI could no longer rely on its ‘fresh and untested’ status and had to answer for its governance. Secondly, as the party sensed a greater chance of forming the government on a national level, it adopted strategies that it once scoffed: enlisting tried and not necessarily true ‘electables’ from other parties, and banking on social infrastructure development in KP. To counter that, the party doubled down on the two messages: the persona of Khan himself and its governance record in KP.

The narrative largely worked. With its rivals weakened due to a variety of internal and external factors, PTI strategised its campaign, focusing on a socio-economic agenda. The presence of Asad Umer in its ranks helped on that front.

Now, the elections are over and PTI fans and neutral observers alike now eagerly wait for the promised ‘change’. The task at hand now is to convince the public that ‘good enough’ is not good enough.

Returning for a moment to Trump, his campaign strategy was focused on two catchphrases: “Make America Great Again” and “Draining the Swamp”. The first message was that US was not functioning to its peak potential due to policies adopted by Trump’s predecessors and the political administration was a ‘swamp’ riddled by a lack of transparency and corruption. It seems that the playbook has been adapted by the PTI.

As the realities of governing a country materialise, the PTI’s media strategy remains focused on the future. The message is, "Wait and see, we can deliver.". While the strategy is working for now, it is high time that the ideals are put into practice, for the betterment of the party and for the betterment of the country.

 

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PTI candidates in Islamabad spend poll eve seeking bail, activists’ release​

IHC CJ grants bail to Amir Mughal; Shuaib Shaheen and Muhammad Ali Bukhari successfully seek release of their supporters.

 

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Elections were 100 pc transparent and peaceful: CEC​

Updated Feb 08, 18:11
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said today's electoral process was "100 per cent transparent and peaceful" as political parties, and human rights organisations decried the unexpected suspension of cellular and internet services.

Addressing the media after the polling time concluded, the CEC stated that the polling process continued without any interruptions. "No citizen was prevented from casting their vote," he added.

"Where connectivity is an issue, the concerned Presiding Officer will personally go to the office of the concerned Returning Officer and issue Form 45," Raja stated.

He said once uploaded in EMS, Form 45 will automatically be received wherever services are restored.

Addressing complaints about voting process delays in some polling stations, the election commissioner said time can be extended till 2 PM on the day if it is asked to be extended.

"Timing was extended at three polling stations in Gujrat on the concerned ROs requests," he said.

 

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PTI leader writes letter to CEC on internet suspension​

Updated Feb 08, 16:58
Senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Senator Syed Ali Zafar has written a letter to the chief election commissioner (CEC) on Thursday, expressing concern over the suspension of internet and mobile phone services across the country on election day.

According to a statement issued by PTI’s Central Media Department, Ali Zafar, also a PTI senator, stated that the nationwide suspension of mobile phone and internet services on the day of the elections is causing severe and significant damage to Pakistan.

He slammed as “unacceptable” the CEC’s statement in which he dissociated the suspension of internet and mobile phone services from the conduct of free and fair elections.

Senator Zafar reiterated that the Constitution of Pakistan mandates the CEC to ensure the free and fair conduct of elections, and this includes the responsibility for the availability of internet and mobile phone services.

According to the Constitution, the Election Commission of Pakistan has the authority to instruct the government to restore mobile and internet services, Senator Zafar highlighted. He urged immediate action to ensure the restoration of internet and mobile phone services, highlighting the demand on behalf of PTI and the people of Pakistan.

 

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Amnesty ‘alarmed’ by pre-polls unrest in Pakistan​

Feb 07, 2024

Body slams targeted violence as a blatant infringement on democratic process

 

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General Elections 2024: polling ends as Pakistan marred by ‘disconnect’​

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.

 

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Pakistan elections 2024: Polls close in vote marred by internet cut​

By Yvette Tan, Caroline Davies and Simon Fraserin Singapore, Lahore and London

Polls have closed in Pakistan after the authorities suspended mobile calls and data while millions voted for a new government in a controversial election.

The interior ministry said incidents of terrorism made the measure necessary.

The election comes almost two years after the previous prime minister, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, was ousted in a no-confidence vote.

Three-time PM Nawaz Sharif was on the ballot in what many analysts say is Pakistan's least credible election yet.

Khan, jailed on corruption charges last year, is barred from standing and his party called the internet cut a "cowardly act".


It is unclear how soon results will be announced but they must be released within two weeks of election day.

Polling experts were already forecasting a low turnout, which it's thought would hamper the PTI's chances. The suspension of mobile services made it harder for voters to find their polling stations.

Both calls and data services were suspended just 10 minutes before voting started, although wifi networks still appeared to be working.

One voter told the BBC they were shocked at the decision, saying "voters should be facilitated instead of [having to be met with] such hurdles".

Another said she had been expecting a blanket shutdown.


Many voters in the city of Lahore told the BBC that the internet blackout meant it was not possible to book taxis to go and vote, while others said they couldn't chat to other family members to co-ordinate when to head to polling stations.

Justifying the move, an Interior Ministry spokesman said: "As a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country, precious lives have been lost. Security measures are essential to maintain law and order situation and to deal with potential threats."

Pakistan has a history of militant attacks but over voting day there were only isolated incidents of violence. In the worst, in Dera Ismail Khan in the north, four police officials were killed in a bomb attack on their vehicle. Several injuries were reported in blasts in south-western Balochistan province, but no casualties.

Two separate bomb attacks on candidates' offices in Balochistan killed at least 28 people on Wednesday.


The shutdown was also criticised by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of murdered ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who called for services to be restored "immediately".

The country is on high alert, with a heavy security presence at polling stations across the country. One station in Lahore the BBC visited had armed guards at the entrance and army officers roaming around the area.

Border crossings with Afghanistan and Iran have been closed for both cargo and pedestrians to "ensure full security" during polling, a spokesman from Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

The country has in the past cut internet services to control the flow of information - though a shutdown of this extent is unprecedented, especially during an election.

Absolutely fair election: Nawaz Sharif​

Mr Sharif and his daughter Maryam voted in Icchra, Lahore on Thursday afternoon. Security was tight, with officers forming a ring around them and a jeep covered in antennas to jam phone signals.


Black cars lined the area as the pair entered the station.

When asked if he thought the election was free and fair, Mr Sharif said they were "absolutely fair".

Speaking to the BBC outside the polling station after casting his vote, he said he had "never had any problems with the military", perhaps forgetting he'd spent much of his long career at loggerheads with the generals.

Mr Sharif spoke of the "lack of civility, the arrogance, and this culture of disrupting and destroying the country", in an apparent reference to Pakistan under Imran Khan.

He said he and his family had gone to jail, "made sacrifices and now we are here witnessing this day". If his party wins, "people's lives will become easier, inflation will go down - this is what people want, this is their wish - and their wishes should come true", he added.

One polling station in Lahore had armed police guarding a government school
Outside one polling station in the city of Multan in Punjab, some female polling agents told the BBC they were not allowed to enter polling booths - and therefore could not observe the polling process.

Typically, female polling agents are given a seat inside booths.

In Lahore, dozens of voters crammed into the small corridors of a school in Naseerabad, with some saying they had been waiting for more than two hours to vote.

Rising violence and economic struggles​

As many as 128 million people are registered to cast their votes, almost half of whom are under the age of 35. More than 5,000 candidates - of whom just 313 are women - are contesting the 266 directly-elected seats in the 336-member National Assembly.


The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) and the PPP are considered the two major parties going into the vote.

However, picking out candidates from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is more difficult, after it was banned from using the cricket bat symbol under which all its candidates run.

• Who is really pulling the strings in a divided Pakistan?
• A jailed star and former convict: Pakistan's election, explained

The move has forced PTI-backed candidates, who are running as independents, to use other symbols instead, including calculators, electric heaters and dice. Electoral symbols play a key role in a country where more than 40% are unable to read.

Symbols like polar bears and peacocks are on the ballot

The PTI allege other tactics have also been used to prevent their candidates from campaigning for and winning seats, including locking up PTI members and supporters and banning them from holding rallies, effectively forcing them underground.

Imran Khan is serving at least 14 years in prison, having been sentenced in three separate cases in the space of five days last week. The PTI alleges interference by Pakistan's powerful military, with whom Khan is said to have fallen out before his ousting and imprisonment.

But people were able to vote for Nawaz Sharif - the PML-N leader, who at the time of the last election was beginning a sentence for corruption.

The former PM was ousted in a 1999 military coup and had his third term cut short in 2017 - but he recently returned from self-imposed exile. He had his lifetime ban on holding office overturned, and also got his criminal record wiped clean at the end of last year, allowing him to stand for what would be a record fourth term.

Pakistan elections 2024: Polls close in vote marred by internet cut

Millions were voting in a new government amid soaring inflation, rising violence and rigging claims.

www.bbc.com

 

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