[🇵🇰] Pakistan General Elections -- 2024

[ghazi]

ECP plans test run of result transmission system​

Iftikhar A. Khan
January 24, 2024

ISLAMABAD: With only 16 days left in the general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to conduct a mock test of its system to transmit and tabulate results.
The ECP has written to all four provincial election commissioners and issued SOPs and guidelines regarding the mock exercise for the Election Management System (EMS) on January 26.
The letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, stated that returning officers (RO) must certify and finalise Forms 28 and 33 in the EMS and map the presiding officers to polling stations till Jan 25.



The said forms carry details of candidates and the number of polling stations in each constituency.

The letter added that dummy Form-45 will be provided to all ROs on Jan 25, and they will ask the presiding officers to send results of 1-2 pages of each NA and PA constituency from their mobile app on Jan 26 at 5pm.

Orders local bodies not to announce development schemes until polls

For the purpose of the exercise, presiding officers can take snapshots of any page, considering it Form-45, which carries results from each polling station.

EMS operators will start data entry from 5pm on Jan 26, and upon completion, ROs will generate Form-47 — the final result.

According to the letter, after the mock exercise, ROs will ensure that all presiding officers have cleared cache data as per ECP’s guidelines.

All EMS operators have also been asked to facilitate presiding officers in clearing the cache on their smartphones.

The provincial election commissioners have been directed to circulate the SoPs with mock exercise guidelines to all ROs.

Guidelines have also been issued for clearing cache from the EMS Mobile App after the mock trial.

 

[Malang]

Sikandar Sultan Raja should be trialled and hanged after the elections. He is the main culprit behind the delay in general elections. He has already rigged the election in favour of PML-N and will likely benefit from PML-N after they come to power

 

[ghazi]

Unlike 2018, troops to stay outside polling stations​

Iftikhar A. Khan
January 26, 2024

• ECP issues code of conduct for army, civilian security personnel
• Cop martyred in attack on Turbat election office

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared on Thursday that, in a departure from the 2018 general elections, army officials assigned to election security will be stationed outside polling stations during the upcoming Feb 8 polls.

“Pakistan armed forces and civil armed forces shall assist in the provision of a secure environment by deploying in quick reaction force mode and outside selected ‘most sensitive’ polling stations from Feb 5 to Feb 10 to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan in the conduct of elections in a free, fair and transparent manner,” the ECP said in a notification, seen by Dawn.

 

[ghazi]

ELECTIONS 2024​

PTI issues show-cause notice to Senator Saifullah Abro for withdrawing from NA-194 in Bilawal’s favour​

Directs Abro to submit response within three days "why action should not be taken" against him.

 

[ghazi]

Nawaz vows to bring ‘good old days’ back​

Ex-PM promises to end inflation, says ‘tabdeeli’ brought Pakistan to a dire situation

News Desk
January 26, 2024

Former prime minister waving to the people during a rally of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Burewala on January 26, 2024. PHOTO: X/ @pmln_org

In a scathing critique of the current state of Pakistan, the supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that tabdeeli (change) has brought Pakistan to a dire situation, vowing to bring “good old days” back.

Nawaz used the term tabdeeli to allude to the widely recognised slogan of the former ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had pledged to usher in transformative "change" across the nation following their victory in the 2018 elections.

However, the party, which has been embroiled in controversy since the events of May 9, faced criticism for failing to fulfil the promises it had made to the people.

 

[ghazi]

Tribal customs hindering campaign of women candidates in Khyber​

Ibrahim Shinwari
January 27, 2024

KHYBER: Tribal customs and traditions are the main hurdle to three women candidates for general seats of provincial assembly in Khyber district as they run a restricted door-to-door campaign and focus mostly on female voters.

Shakira Shinwari, Lal Zaida and Naseem Riaz have filed their nominations for PK-69, PK-70 and PK-71, respectively, alongside 76 other male contestants for the three provincial assembly seats in Landi Kotal, Jamrud and Bara.

Shakira Shinwari and Naseem Riaz are contesting elections as independent candidates while Lal Zaida has the backing of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians.

None of these three female candidates have so far organised any public meeting nor are their personal posters or banners anywhere in sight in their respective constituencies. Motivated by her family support and backing to try her luck in the February 8 general elections for the first time, Shakira Shinwari believes that she can be a better choice to raise voice for the legitimate rights of the otherwise political and economically deprived tribal women as all the former male lawmakers have failed to bring about a qualitative change in the life of local women.

Local elders look at participation of women in polls with sarcasm

“With my canvassing and persuasion, I also want to change the otherwise biased mentality of tribal men towards their womenfolk. Tribal men do not allow their women to get equal rights and have access to basic health and education facilities,” she told this scribe in a committed voice.

But in the same vein she acknowledged the challenges she was faced with in her electoral campaign in the male-dominated tribal society while also conceding that she herself would focus on approaching only female voters, the male members of her family would reach out to male voters as she was not able to pay visits to ’hujra and jumaath (mosque) for canvassing.

 

[Malang]

Nawaz vows to bring ‘good old days’ back​

Ex-PM promises to end inflation, says ‘tabdeeli’ brought Pakistan to a dire situation

News Desk
January 26, 2024

Former prime minister waving to the people during a rally of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Burewala on January 26, 2024. PHOTO: X/ @pmln_org

In a scathing critique of the current state of Pakistan, the supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that tabdeeli (change) has brought Pakistan to a dire situation, vowing to bring “good old days” back.

Nawaz used the term tabdeeli to allude to the widely recognised slogan of the former ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had pledged to usher in transformative "change" across the nation following their victory in the 2018 elections.

However, the party, which has been embroiled in controversy since the events of May 9, faced criticism for failing to fulfil the promises it had made to the people.

we have witnessed old days in Pakistan when Nawaz Sharif was the front man of Army but good days? Nawaz Sharif is trolling the country. There is no ban button in my account otherwise I would have banned him.

Malang

 

[Malang]

Allah Mian agar Noon League, Peoples Party, ANP, MQM, Taliban supporter parties achay din thay to aap hum se ye achay wapis le lo.

Iske badle main has ek leader de do jo competent bhi ho aur honest bhi. Imam Mahdi in Pakistan please

 

[ghazi]

TLP fielding more NA candidates than PPP, PML-N, data shows​

Amir Wasim
January 27, 2024

Irfan Khan


Despite the absence of the traditional electoral pomp and show on the streets, an overwhelming number of candidates are vying for National Assembly seats in the upcoming polls.

A careful analysis of the final candidate list, issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), reveals that a total of 5,160 candidates, including 312 women and two transgender persons, are in the running for 266 general seats of the National Assembly. So far, there is not a single constituency where a one-on-one contest is expected

 

[ghazi]

Shehbaz urges Bilawal to refrain from making political atmosphere ‘tense’ after Nawaz debate challenge​

Bilawal had proposed a debate between him and PML-N supremo Nawaz any time before the election day.

 

[ghazi]

ECP reveals polling scheme for Feb 8 general elections​

Over 90,675 polling stations erected nationwide

Our Correspondent
January 29, 202

ISLAMABAD: In the final stretch before the general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday released the polling blueprint for the polls slated for February 8.

In a detailed breakdown, the ECP announced the establishment of 90,675 polling stations nationwide. Among these, 522 are situated in non-permanent structures.

Of the total polling stations, 25,320 are designated for male voters, 23,950 for female voters, and 41,405 as joint polling stations.

The polling scheme delineates that the province of Punjab boasts 50,944 polling stations, with 35 of them strategically located in non-permanent buildings.

Out of these stations, 14,556 will be for men, and 14,036 for women, while 22,352 polling stations would be for both men and women.

Similarly, Sindh has 14,556 polling stations, including 344 housed in non-permanent structures while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will house a total of 15,697 polling stations have been established, with 73 housed in non-permanent buildings.

Balochistan, with 5,028 polling stations, has 70 constructed in non-permanent buildings.

The ECP revealed that out of the 276,402 polling booths erected nationwide, 147,560 are designated for male voters, and 127,842 for female voters. This strategic distribution aims to facilitate a smooth and accessible voting experience for citizens across the country.

Breaking down the booth statistics, Punjab leads with 149,434 booths, followed by Sindh with 65,005 booths, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 47,081 booths, and Balochistan with 14,882 booths.

WhatsApp helpline

The ECP has introduced a WhatsApp helpline, aiming to offer citizens a platform to voice their poll-related grievances.

With over 128 million voters set to cast their ballots on February 8, and a record number of candidates vying for positions, the electoral body’s move aims to address the need for a streamlined communication channel during this crucial electoral period.

The newly launched WhatsApp helpline, accessible through the number 0327 5050610, particularly caters to individuals with speech and hearing impairments, allowing them to submit their complaints through video messages.

The initiative is part of the Election Monitoring and Complaint Centre (EMCC) set up by the ECP to effectively manage and address voters' concerns in the lead-up to the general elections. The move is expected to significantly enhance accessibility and responsiveness in handling complaints.

In addition to WhatsApp, the ECP has provided alternative channels for lodging complaints. Citizens can submit their grievances via email at complaints@ecp.gov.pk or through the dedicated helpline at 111-327-000, ensuring multiple avenues for communication.

To streamline the complaint registration process, control rooms have been established at the ECP secretariat, as well as at provincial, divisional, and district-level offices. These control rooms will play a crucial role in handling the registration and resolution of complaints from concerned citizens.

Equipped with trained staff, the central control centre is dedicated to promptly resolving election-related issues. The ECP has encouraged citizens to share any instances of code of conduct violations in their areas.

The control centre is also fortified with a social media and electronic media monitoring facility to effectively track and address concerns raised across various platforms.

ECP reveals polling scheme for Feb 8 general elections | The Express Tribune

Over 90,675 polling stations erected nationwide

tribune.com.pk

 

[ghazi]

Analysts sceptical of PPP, PML-N ‘impractical’ manifestos​

Observers argue manifestos lack substance and fail to address pressing

 

[ghazi]

Analysts sceptical of PPP, PML-N ‘impractical’ manifestos​

Observers argue manifestos lack substance and fail to address pressing

 

[ghazi]

 

[Invicta]

Would it be safe to go to Pakistan during the elections? I am having to travel before the elections and will be there for a while.

 

[ghazi]

Would it be safe to go to Pakistan during the elections? I am having to travel before the elections and will be there for a while.

Yes ! Everybody is busying in election, nobody wants to miss the train.

 

[ghazi]

ECP dispels false fatwa against women voting​

Vows Section 9 action if women barred from electoral activities

Our Correspondent
January 29, 2024

A Kashmiri woman giving thumb impression on ballot paper at polling station during AJK Legislative Assembly Elections 2021. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD: Responding to reports of a purported fatwa (Islamic decree) barring women from voting in Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) debunked the claim on Monday, asserting its commitment to combat any restrictions on women's participation in elections.

However, the electoral body clarified that if any woman faced impediments in campaigning or voting during the upcoming elections, it will invoke Section 9 of the Elections Act to take appropriate action.

The ECP stressed that it has the authority to declare the election process null and void in any constituency where women are unjustly barred from participating in the electoral process.

 

[ghazi]

More of the same?

Several factors inject unpredictability into the electoral outcome.

www.dawn.com

IS the general election this time any different from previous ones? Or is it more of the same? There are several significant similarities with past polls. The same parties are contesting — some reincarnations of older ones while others cobbled together by defectors from another party.

They are led by the same political figures. Many contestants running as independents are familiar names. The establishment’s ubiquitous role is no different from the past. Its interventions to limit the electoral chances of one political party mimics the past; this time it is PTI; in the last election it was PML-N. The issueless character of the election campaign is also not new.

But there are also several departures from the past which have been obscured in much of the commentary about the elections. For a start, the polls are taking place against the backdrop of the most serious economic crisis the country has ever faced. This itself is distinct from the past as it has involved far-reaching repercussions for people, in the form of a cost-of-living crisis, rising unemployment and increased poverty.

This has come on the back of continuing power shortages across the country with gas ‘load-shedding’ being even more frequent this winter season. These are all drivers of public discontent. It is yet to be seen how this will manifest itself at the ballot box and who voters will attribute their economic plight to.

A second difference is the intensely polarised atmosphere in which the election is taking place. Polarised politics is of course not new. But the extent of polarisation today is unprecedented, dividing people and society along intensely partisan lines. There is much less tolerance than in the past for political opponents, while a toxic quality has been injected into the political conversation and debased what passes for debate.

Three, and perhaps the most visible break from the past, is the subdued nature of the election campaign that is in progress. This is somewhat paradoxical, given the deep polarisation in the country. But it is partially explained by the restrictions placed on one of the parties. Missing is the festive atmosphere and public fervour that usually characterises the run-up to elections.

 

[ghazi]

Empty promises and soaring prices​

No party is focusing on the economy’s core issues in the short run or how to overcome the challenges of huge external debt payments in the long run.

 

[ghazi]

No Surprise here ........

Please avoid laughing Thanks....

.........

All parties represent elite except PPP: Bilawal​

PPP chairman vows to double salaries of common man if voted to power

News Desk
January 30, 2024

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressing a rally in Dera Ismail Khan on January 8, 2024. PHOTO: PPP MEDIA CELL


Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, addressing a political rally in Dera Ismail Khan, criticised rival parties participating in the electoral campaign, stating that others only represent the elite besides PPP.

 

[ghazi]

Framework for polls result release finalised​

Over 859 ROs from various regions to be equipped with internet-enabled mobile devices linked with EMS

Amna Ali
January 30, 2024

PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: With the imminent February 8 general elections on the horizon, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday successfully concluded preparations for the release of general election results.
Over 859 returning officers from various regions across the country will be equipped with mobile internet devices, establishing a link with the Election Management System (EMS).

 

[ghazi]

PTI-affiliated candidate shot dead while canvassing in Bajaur: police​

DPO says incident appears to be a "targeted killing"; 5 injured in grenade attack on PPP election office in Quetta.

 

[ghazi]

 

[ghazi]

Campaigning in full swing in old city areas​

Voters in NA-118 unhappy with previous winners

Bilal Ghouri
January 29, 2024

PHOTO: FILE

---

LAHORE: With election campaigning under way in full swing in the National Assembly constituency NA-118, local voters are demanding the solution of their problems including infectious diseases due to illegal factories, lack of development work for a long time, as well as unavailability of potable water and gas supply.

The constituency in Lahore is of great political importance, but this time the voters appear dissatisfied with the candidates.

 

[ghazi]