Counting of votes begins as polling across country concludes amid heightened security

February 8, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Counting has started all over Pakistan as the polling of 12th General Elections, concluded in a largely peaceful manner, except sporadic incidents of violence, as there are varying reports about turnout.

Vote count began in the polling stations as the PTI’s plea for extending time of casting ballot was turned down.

People turn out in droves in many parts of Punjab and, eyewitnesses say, the young and the old showed a great deal of enthusiasm. There were long queues of people at some of the polling stations in Lahore while some polling stations did not have too many people.

Except for internet and mobile services suspension, the polling process reportedly went smooth at most places.

Pakistan temporarily suspended mobile phone services on Thursday to strengthen security as voting began in the country’s national election, the interior ministry said.

The government’s decision comes amidst a rise in militant attacks in the run-up to the election and a day after jailed former prime minister and the PTI founder urged his supporters to wait outside polling booths after voting until results are announced.

“As a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country precious lives have been lost, security measures are essential to maintain the law and order situation and deal with possible threats, hence the temporary suspension of mobile services across the country,” the interior ministry said in a message on X.

Two blasts near election offices on Wednesday killed 24 people in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blasts in a message on its Telegram channel. Several other groups, including the TTP and separatist Baloch militants, oppose the Pakistani state and have also carried out attacks in recent months.

The country is on high alert with tens of thousands of troops and paramilitary soldiers on duty across the country, including at polling stations. Pakistan also said it was closing its borders with Iran and Afghanistan for the day for security purposes.

Unofficial first results in the election are expected a few hours after voting closes at 5pm and a clear picture is likely to emerge early on Friday.

The main contests are expected to be between candidates backed by the ex-prime minister whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won the last national election, and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif who is considered the front-runner.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the 35-year-old son of former premier Benazir Bhutto, has also run an aggressive campaign in an outside bid for the top office.

“The deciding factor is which side the powerful military and its security agencies are on,” said Abbas Nasir, a columnist. “Only a huge turnout in favour of PTI can change its fortunes.”

The two former prime ministers have switched places since the last election in 2018: the PTI founder was believed to be backed by the establishment then and Sharif was in jail on corruption charges.

“Historically, engineered electoral exercises have not produced stability,” Nasir said, adding, “Economic challenges are so serious, grave, and the solutions so very painful that I am unsure how anyone who comes to power will steady the ship.”

If the election does not result in a clear majority for anyone, as analysts are predicting, tackling multiple challenges will be tricky – foremost being seeking a new bailout programme from International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the current one expires in March.

Smaller political parties could play a crucial role in the formation of a government that will need 169 seats in the 336-member National Assembly. Voters directly elect 266 members while there are 70 reserved seats – 60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims – allotted according to the number of seats won by each party.

Independents, many of whom are being backed by the PTI founder, are free to join any party if they win, which could swing fortunes after the vote. He has said his candidates will not back Nawaz or Bilawal.

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Body of young student found from Islamabad seminary’s washroom

Our Correspondent

February 8, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Body of a 10-year-old boy was recovered from the washroom of a local seminary in Islamabad’s Aabpara’s police station area in G-6/3, police said.

Abdullah’s jugular vein was slit with a sharp-edged weapon. He was a student of a seminary in Jamia Masjid Bilal.

Police registered the first information report and after the postmortem the dead body was handed over to the family.

A Polyclinic Hospital doctor told police that Abdullah was killed by using a sharp-edged weapon.

Further details will be revealed after the compilation of the postmortem report.

The police claimed that a comprehensive investigation was in progress to detect the reason behind this severe crime.

The police urged anyone with information regarding the matter to come forward and contact them. For reporting any suspicious activities, individuals were encouraged to utilize the emergency helpline 15 or ICT 15 app.

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Renowned actor Sajid Hasan joins IPP

Our Correspondent

January 22, 2024

KARACHI: Renowned showbiz personality Sajid Hasan has officially become a part of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), reports said here on Sunday.

Sajid Hasan was presented with the party flag by Mahmood Maulvi, the Provincial President. Welcoming Sajid Hassan into the party, Mahmood Maulvi conveyed his pleasure and enthusiasm.

The veteran actor advocated for a politics of unity, emphasising the importance of bringing people together rather than creating divisions.

Expressing a new perspective, Sajid Hasan stated, “Now we are committed to making a difference for the youth and the nation.”

Meanwhile, IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan said on Sunday that his party will play a vital role in the next government.

Expressing his thoughts in Khanewal, Aleem Khan said, ‘’It is not possible to impress everybody in politics.Who pretends to extend support to everybody is not loyal to anybody in real context.’’

He took a swipe at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) without naming it. ‘’I joined one political party to see the creation of Naya Pakistan. By putting in all the hard work, we made the leader of that party the premier.’’

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Three Varsities in Islamabad close for security concerns

Mehtab Cheema

January 22, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Three universities in Islamabad have been closed for an indefinite period over security concerns, officials within university administrations on Monday said.

The development came after security agencies conducted a search operation in the suburbs of Islamabad late Sunday.

The administrations of Bahria, Air and National Defence Universities issued directives for the closure, they added.

The students were informed about the indefinite closure late at night by the university administration.

As per the sources, the final examinations of university students have also been affected due to the sudden closure.

Meanwhile, police sources said security is already beefed up in the federal capital due to the upcoming elections and ongoing sit-ins by Baloch protesters at the press club.

A day earlier, addressing a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai rebuked the Baloch demonstrators holding a sit-in protest against enforced disappearances in Islamabad.

“Those who were being labelled as missing persons were terrorists [and] killed in Iran,” he claimed while referring to Pakistan’s strikes inside Iran.

The provincial information minister had said Baloch protesters were staging the sit-in in Islamabad for ulterior motives.

“They could disturb the law and order situation. In such a situation, it becomes impossible to stop a terror incident. Those wearing masks in the sit-in can be terrorists of banned outfits,” he added.

In 2023, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1463 injuries from as many as 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations.

According to Annual Security Report released by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) released last month includes nearly 1000 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel.

The overall fatalities including those of outlaws mark a record 6-year high, exceeding the 2018 level and highest since 2017. Moreover, the country saw a surge in violence for the third consecutive year with an uptick recorded each year beginning from 2021.

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Man’s body found hanging from bridge in Islamabad

Our Correspondent

January 22, 2024

ISLAMABAD: In a shocking incident, a man’s body was found hanging from a bridge in Islamabad, Police reports said here on Monday.

The body kept on hanging for several hours as it was not visible due to dense fog in Islamabad.

As per details, the deceased man whose body was retrieved from the bridge has been identified as Umar, a resident of Mardan’s Katlang area.

The police in its initial report said that the youth had committed suicide, while the investigation has been launched.

Police officials stated that the family of the deceased man was not found even after several hours had passed.

Whereas, the hospital administration said that the incident seemed to be a suicide as per the initial investigation.

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Iran ‘attacks militant bases in Panjgur’; Pakistan condemns airspace violation

Sardar Jahanzaib

January 17, 2024

QUETTA: Iran launched attacks in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaysh-al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan, the Iranian state media reported, prompting strong condemnation from Islamabad.

“Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish-al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan” were “specifically targeted and successfully demolished by a combination of missile and drone attacks”, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said.

Jaysh-al-Adl has previously mounted attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan. Tuesday’s attack in Balochistan came a day after Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

Meanwhile, Pakistan strongly condemned the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that the strike inside Pakistani territory killed two children and injured three girls.

“This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday night. The statement didn’t mention the location of the attacks.

Tasnim reported that the “focal point of this operation was the region known as Kouh-Sabz (green mountain)” in Balochistan.

Local authorities said they had also received information about such an attack, but had no further details at the time of going to print. Reports from the area suggested that a missile hit a mosque, partially damaging it and injuring some people.

In its statement, the foreign office described the incident as an “illegal act”.

It said a strong protest had been lodged with Tehran, while the Iranian charge d’affaires had been called to MoFA to convey “strongest condemnation of this blatant violation”.

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‘Heads may roll’, warns CJP after PTI chief Gohar’s family ‘attacked’ in Islamabad

Tanzeel Ahmed

January 13, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa warned Saturday that “heads may roll” after law enforcers “attacked” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Gohar Ali Khan’s house in Islamabad.

Gohar got to know about the house raid while he was assisting PTI’s Barrister Zafar Ali during a hearing about the party’s bat allotment symbol at the Supreme Court earlier in the day.

A person came up to Gohar and told him about the incident. Then, in conversation with his colleague, the PTI chief said his sons and nephews had been beaten up.

“The news has just come from home. People came in four double cabins and took the computer,” Gohar told his colleague.

Pointing at Barrister Gohar, the PTI lawyer said: “Some people reached his home and beat up his family members.

Reacting to the update, CJP Isa said: “Whatever happened should not have happened.”

He summoned the additional attorney general to the rostrum reiterating his displeasure at the news. The additional attorney general said he would look into it and left the courtroom.

After informing the CJP about the situation, Gohar left immediately.

The PTI chairman, after a while, returned to the apex court, following which CJP Isa inquired from him about the situation. “The situation is very serious,” he responded.

The chief justice directed the additional attorney general to resolve the matter. However, Barrister Gohar said he doesn’t trust anyone and wants to tell the court what has happened.

The additional attorney general said he has spoken with the home secretary and Inspector General of Islamabad Police (IGP) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan.

“The home secretary and the IG are investigating what happened,” he told the court. As the PTI chief wanted to say something, CJP Isa stopped him and told him to inform the additional attorney general instead. “First tell the additional attorney general, if not heard by him, then inform the court.”

Commenting on the attack, Barrister Gohar complained that the limit has been crossed now, responding to which the CJP said the court is not the police.

“If we cannot resolve the issue, then you can tell us,” the chief justice said addressing the PTI chief.

While this was happening, the Islamabad police claimed it received an update about the police reaching Barrister Gohar’s house.

“On a tip-off, the police reached a house in search of the wanted criminals. Upon reaching there, the police found out that the house belonged to Barrister Gohar and the police returned,” the Islamabad police posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The law enforcers further claimed that neither any kind of violence was done to anyone nor any documents were taken. “It was a routine operation. Further investigations are being carried out.”

Later, the IG Islamabad appeared before the court, CJP Isa told him that a complaint had been made before the court which was “completely intolerable” and ordered him to attend to it “immediately”.

“If heads needed to be rolled, then do so,” he said and ordered the IGP to personally ask the family members present at his house about what had happened.

CJP Isa then asked the IG whether he knew what had happened or not. At this, the IGP said: “The police have gone to that place.” The CJP asked why did the police go to the PTI chairman’s house.

In response, the IGP said the police had a tip-off about proclaimed offenders being present over there, to which, the CJP asked the capital’s top cop to name those proclaimed offenders.

IG Akbar said since the time was short, he was unaware of who those people were exactly. However, he said when the police officials arrived at the place and were apprised that this was Barrister Gohar’s house, they returned.

The CJP then asked in which police station has the case been registered, to which the IGP said that it was the Kohsar Police Station.

“Okay, go there personally and submit a report before us. This is a very serious matter. Every citizen has to have full protection. Since you’re not aware of it, but heads may roll,” the CJP added.

The chief justice, at the end, noted that if Barrister Gohar is not satisfied, the court should be informed.

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No one can interfere in ECP’s domain, CJP Faez Isa

Palwasha Mustafa

January 12, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has observed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is a constitutional body and no one can interfere in its domain.

“Supreme Court will not interfere in the domain of the Election Commission of Pakistan. However, if ECP commits any unconstitutional act then the court can look into it,” the top judge said.

The CJP passed these remarks during a hearing of a ECP’s petition against the Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict restoring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) electoral symbol — bat.

A three-member bench of the apex court led by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarat Hilali is hearing the matter.

The case proceedings are being broadcast live on the SC website and YouTube channel.

Advocate Hamid Khan and Barrister Ali Zafar represented the PTI, while senior counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan appeared on behalf of the ECP.

A two-member bench of the PHC on Wednesday overturned the ECP decision revoking the election symbol ‘bat’ and rejecting PTI intra-party elections.

PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and six other party leaders had filed a joint petition in the high court praying for declaring the ECP decision as illegal and without jurisdiction.

The ECP, however, on Thursday approached the Supreme Court and field a petition for leave to appeal under Article 185(3) of the Constitution against the PHC short order.

In the appeal, the electoral body questioned as to whether considering the importance of the matter the high court was justified in disposing of writ petition through a short order, without giving detailed reasons.

At the outset of the hearing, PTI counsel Hamid Khan sought adjournment of the hearing till Monday to prepare for the case.

At this, CJP Qazi Faez Isa said the PHC decision has to be suspended for three days if the case is adjourned till Monday.

The CJP said they were willing to sacrifice their weekly offs (Saturday and Sunday) to hear the cases related to the elections.

“We want the elections to take place on time and as per law,” the CJP added.

ECP counsel Makhdom Ali Khan told the bench that electoral symbols will be allotted to candidates contesting the February 8 polls tomorrow.

Advocate Khan challenged the ECP’s locus standi and maintainability of the plea saying that the electoral body cannot challenge the PHC verdict in the SC as it is not an affected party.

The ECP counsel said cannot be sustained in the eyes of the law and added that the electoral body has the authority to issue electoral symbols to political parties.

CJP Isa observed that the ECP is a constitutional body which has two primary responsibilities — to deal with the affairs of the political parties and to hold transparent elections.

“If the Election Commission’s locus standi is questionable, then questions will also be raised on PTI’s [right to appeal] as to why PTI moved the PHC,” the CJP remarked.

CJP Isa said the ECP decision will become meaningless if it does not appeal decisions.

At this, PTI counsel Khan questioned whether a district judge can overturn his own decision.

CJP Isa responded by saying that the district judge is subordinate to the judiciary while the ECP is an independent constitutional body.

“Mr Hamid Khan, don’t compare a constitutional institution with a legal institution. The two judgments you referred to are regarding legal entities,” CJP Isa told Advocate Khan.

The PTI counsel maintained that every constitutional institution operates under the law and the Election Commission operates in accordance with the law of the Election Act

“We have noted your objection,” the CJP added.

After the court met again following the break, ECP counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan resumed his arguments.

The ECP counsel contended that PTI intra-party elections were kept secret and documents submitted by the party regarding the polls were not consistent with facts.

The CJP inquired ECP counsel about the former PTI secretary general Asad Umar who quit the party following the May 9 events.

“Is there any resignation of Asad Umar? Has he been expelled from PTI?” the CJP asked.

However, the ECP counsel expressed ignorance saying the electoral body does not have any information regarding Umar’s resignation and added that incumbent PTI’s secretary general Umar Ayub signed the notification related to the PTI intra-party elections.

However, he said it’s not known how Ayub became the party’s secretary general.

After hearing the ECP’s counsel arguments, the CJP observed: “It means PTI has violated its constitution.”

He further asked: “Where did the intra-party elections take place? In a hotel or a cricket ground?”

The PTI counsel told the bench that the party’s intra-party polls were held in a small village near Peshawar.

“Why were intra-party elections held in this small village?” Justice Hilali inquired.

Meanwhile, the PHC issued a notice to ECP on PTI’s plea seeking contempt of court proceedings against the electoral body over its alleged failure to comply with its order on the intra-party polls.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Shakil Ahmad and Justice Waqar Ahmad heard the petition.

PTI counsels Qazi Muhammad Anwar and Shah Faisal Ilyas appeared before the court.

The PTI contended that the ECP failed to publish the certificate of the party’s intra-party polls on its website despite the PHC’s order.

The petition said that the PHC had on Wednesday termed illegal the ECP decision of December 22, 2023, wherein the latter had invalidated the intra-party elections of the PTI and deprived it of its electoral symbol “bat”.

The PTI requested the court to initiate the contempt of court proceedings against the ECP for non-compliance with the court directives.

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PML-N awards tickets in Islamabad, Rawalpindi to old faces

Sara Maqsood

January 12, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)while awarding party tickets for upcoming February 8 General Elections in Rawalpindi Division and Islamabad has preferred old faces on most of the seats with few exceptions.

Minimizing the role of former senator Chaudhry Tanveer Khan from Rawalpindi, the party has awarded only two tickets in his family unlike four tickets awarded to his family in last general elections of 2018, when he lost all the seats.

His son Danyal Chaudhary is awarded a party ticket from NA-57 where he will face Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed while the son of Tanveer’s sister in law Imran Ilyas Chaudhry is awarded a ticket from PP-11.

In a wise move, the party has awarded party tickets to former MNA Haji Pervaiz Khan from PP-19 and Sajjad Khan from PP-13 that will eventually help to unite the party vote bank as both were also in the run to get a ticket for National Assembly’s seat.

On the other side, the party ticket from the second seat of the Rawalpindi city NA-56 to the Muhammad Hanif Abbasi while the party tickets for PP-16 and PP-17 are given to Ziaullah Shah and Raja Hanif, who remained MPAs from these constituencies in the past.

After a decision to avoid contesting election by the Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, party has awarded the party ticket for NA-51 to Raja Usama Sarwar, the son of former senior provincial minister Punjab Raja Ashfaq Sarwar.

However, an ongoing vacuum in the constituency has paved a way for Bilal Yameen Satti, the son of the former MPA of old good days Col. Yameen Satti from PP-6 while the party ticket from the other provincial constituency PP-7 is given to Raja Sagheer Ahmed, who has a strong hold in the area and he won the general elections of 2018 as independent candidate and join ruling PTI but later become a turncoat and voted Hamza Shehbaz Sharif.

Raja Sagheer was disqualified by the Supreme Court but he remained successful to get back his seat in the by-elections. Awarding a ticket to him eventually ended the decade’s long electoral politics of Raja Zafar-ul-Haq as his son Raja Muhammad Ali was again refused a party ticket.

From Gujar Khan, Raja Javed Ikhlas has managed to get a party ticket. He remained district nazim Rawalpindi while he was elected in 2013 on PML-N ticket by defeating outgoing Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf but could not resist him in 2018 and lost the seat again.

The party tickets for provincial assembly in this constituency are given to Iftikhar Ahmed for PP-8 and Raja Shoukat Aziz Bhatti for PP-9. Mr. Bhatti is the son of former judge of the Lahore High Court Justice Aziz Bhatti while Iftikhar Ahmed belongs to a spiritual family of Gujar Khan.

Meanwhile, Malik Ibrar Ahmed, who is divisional president of the party has managed to get all three tickets of his constituency for his family as he himself is awarded ticket for NA-55, his brother Malik Iftikhar Ahmed for PP-14 and Malik Mansoor Afsar for PP-15.

On the other side, the party has balanced the loyalty and resources as it awarded a party ticket from NA-53 to its time tested candidate Engineer Qamar-ul-Islam but at the same time accommodated the owner of a private housing society Chaudhry Naeem Ijaz on PP-10.

PML-N while taking another move has made a seat adjustment in Taxila and kept the National Assembly seat for Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Provincial Assembly seat for his nephew Amar Siddique Khan of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party while awarding the ticket to Umer Farooq.

In Islamabad, the party has issued tickets to its previous candidates from NA-46 to Anjam Aqeel Khan and from NA-48 to Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while the decision for NA-47 has yet to be made as a seat adjustment with IPP is also under consideration on this seat.

Sources said that the party wants to give a ticket to Shaikh Anser Aziz but IPP is pushing to accommodate its leader Amir Kiani on this seat however a final decision is awaited so far.

From District Attock, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed was awarded the National Assembly ticket to contest from NA-49 and Malik Sohail Khan from NA 50 and both are the former MNAs from the area.

For provincial assembly, the following candidates were awarded tickets in the constituency including PP-1 Jahangir Khanzada, PP-2 Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, PP-3 Huneed Akbar, PP-4 Sher Ali Khan and PP-5 Malik Aitebar.

From District Chakwal, the ticket of NA-58 was awarded to Maj (retd) Tahir Iqbal, and provincial tickets from PP-20 to Sultan Haider Al Khan and PP-21 to Tanvir Aslam Malik.

From District Talagang, the NA 59 ticket was awarded to Sardar Ghulam Abbas and PP 23 to Shehryar Malik while decision on PP-22 is yet awaited.

From District Jhelum, the party has only awarded tickets on two provincial assembly seats including PP-25 to Chaudhary Nadeem Khadim and PP-26 to Nasir Mahmood Lilla while rest of the constituencies of the provincial assembly and the national assembly are yet to be awaited.

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MQM-P names contestants from Karachi for NA seats

Sameena Umar

January 11, 2024

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Thursday released a list of the party candidates contesting elections on National Assembly seats from Karachi, according to which MQM-P’s 16 candidates would contest elections from 18 NA seats in the megalopolis.

As per the list, in order from the lower number of NA seats to the higher number, MQM-P will field Aasia Ishaque from NA-232, Javed Hanif from NA-233, Muhammad Abubakar from NA-234, Iqbal Mahsud from NA-235 and Hassan Sabir from NA-236 constituency of Karachi.

While, Abdul Rauf Siddiqui will contest elections on NA-237 seat, Sadiq Iftikhar on NA-238, Arshad Vohra on NA-240 and Dr Farooq Sattar from district South’s NA-241.

MQM-P Senior Deputy Convener Mustafa Kamal will contend for the hot seat of NA-242 situated in Keamari district. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has been luring the party to withdraw its candidate in favour of former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Humayun Usman will be the candidate for NA-243 seat, Farooq Sattar for NA-244, Hafizuddin for NA-245, Aminul Haque for NA-246 and Mustafa Kamal for NA-247.

MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui will be the party candidate on NA-248 seat in district Central, while Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui will contest on NA-249 and Farhan Chishti on NA-250.

The party did not issue any NA ticket to a candidate for the NA seat in Lyari.

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