[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

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[Deleted due to Error (Muji Iqbal)]

I would vote for Fazlur -ur-Rehman.

At least he is better than Nawaz Sharif or PPP

 

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Parties deny representation to transgender community​

WISAL YOUSAFZAI/ASIF MAHMOOD/RAZZAK ABRO
JAN 31, 2024

Despite their progressive manifestos, no political party has offered a ticket to a candidate of the etherized gender

 

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Editorial: ​

What new depths will the state plumb as it makes clear its antipathy towards Imran?​

For now, we may only spectate as institutions bend to the will of those who think that no elected leader deserves a free pass.

Double down​

Editorial
February 1, 2024

TWO verdicts in two days. A 14-year sentence for ‘corruption’ to accompany a 10-year sentence for ‘divulging state secrets’. First, his top lieutenant, and now his spouse also convicted and jailed.

And still, former prime minister Imran Khan’s troubles are far from over. What new depths will the state plumb as it makes clear its antipathy towards him?

The days leading up to the Feb 8 elections may hold more ‘surprises’. For now, we may only sit and spectate as facts, procedures, laws and institutions bend to the will of those who think that no elected leader deserves a free pass — until they decide they do.

Mr Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been convicted for under-declaring the value of a jewellery set they received as a gift while the former was still in office. The verdict has been delivered via an accountability court judge who, just days before the last general election, had also convicted this year’s front-runners in the Avenfield reference.

That judgement was overturned in November last year. Most commentators believe this one will not last too long, either. Incidentally — or perhaps by design — the same judge is also supposed to hear a similar case involving items retained from the state’s gift repository. The matter involves several cars allegedly retained by Messrs Nawaz Sharif, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Asif Ali Zardari in violation of Toshakhana rules.

 

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Central KP — The ‘kingmaker’ of the province’s politics​

The Peshawar valley and central KP is the key that can open doors of power for those who succeed in winning over voters.

 

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Khyber candidates counting on their tribal affiliations, personal clout​

Ibrahim Shinwari
February 1, 2024

KHYBER: Tribal affiliations and personal influence of candidates have taken precedence over their political associations or ideological bonds in election campaigns here.

They are seen in videos soliciting votes from people on the basis of their tribe and sub-tribes and demeaning opponents for being part of rival tribes.

With the general election in one National Assembly constituency NA-27 and three provincial assembly constituencies PK-69, PK-70 and PK-71 just a week away, some candidates are reminding tribesmen of how much attention they as lawmakers paid to the development of their areas by neglecting other localities or tribes.

They’re little interested in promoting the political parties that fielded them and are helping them canvass “to an extent.”

Tribal district has one NA, three PA seats

Political observer Khiyal Mat Shah Afridi, who is a former councillor, insisted political ideologies and election manifestos were “conveniently” ignored by candidates of almost all major parties.

“Organisational structures of most parties are very weak in tribal districts, while the local electorates prefer someone from their own tribe instead of an alien imposed on them,” he told Dawn.

 

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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.

 

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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.