Author: newsdesk

  • EXCLUSIVE: Where is Nawaz Sharif right now?

    EXCLUSIVE: Where is Nawaz Sharif right now?

    A source close to the Sharif family has told us that as the election results go neck to neck PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif has left the PMLN Model Town headquarters and cancelled his ‘victory speech’.

  • Social media goes wild as independents go neck-to-neck in early results

    Social media goes wild as independents go neck-to-neck in early results

    Today is a big day in Pakistan as the country goes to vote. In 2018, PTI won and formed the government. This time, the party is fielding its candidates as independents.

    The internet is buzzing as unofficial election results show independents in a tight race, and even leading in many constituencies. The competition is so close that nobody knows who will win yet. Everyone is eagerly waiting for the final results.
    Here are some reactions on social media:

  • Geo Anchors fight it out for News Anchor Muhammad Junaid’s love

    Geo Anchors fight it out for News Anchor Muhammad Junaid’s love

    Geo News Anchors Hamid Mir and Shahzeb Khanzada are in awe of News Anchorperson Muhammad Junaid for his reporting of election results during Geo’s election transmission.

    It all started with Managing Director of GEO News, Azhar Abbas who posted on Twitter, “There is a reason why Junaid is so good in Marathons, whether it’s running or marathon transmissions (almost three hours non-stop announcing results).

    Shahzaeb Khanzada retweeted this response by writing “230 minutes and counting.. no break, no mistake, no fumble and only he knows how he manages to breathe in between.”

    Didn’t end there as Hamid Mir went a step ahead with the appreciation and tweeted, “Our marathon runner news anchor Junaid created a record by speaking non-stop on Geo News since last three hours without any fumble. He is announcing results of #Election2024 with full speed and energy.”

    Investigative Journalist Fakhar Durrani also posted an appreciation note stating “hats off to you.”

  • When will we know who is the next Prime Minister of Pakistan?

    When will we know who is the next Prime Minister of Pakistan?

    Polling is over for perhaps the most contentious elections in Pakistan’s history, and now the nation is waiting for the results for Pakistan’s general elections.

    But when will we know who their next Prime Minister will be?

    Not anytime soon, unfortunately.

    Here’s how it works. The results as yet are unofficial. Official results are being compiled by ECP and will take a while to tabulate.
    Once the votes are counted, the parliament will take oath. Then the house will hold election for Prime Minister and the candidate who has the majority of legislators behind him, he wins.

    We know that PML-N candidate for Prime Minister is Nawaz Sharif while for PPP its Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

    Could a dark horse become our Premier? We’ll know in a few short days.

  • “Taliban have taken over my constituency,” says Mohsin Dawar

    “Taliban have taken over my constituency,” says Mohsin Dawar

    Former Member National Assembly and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement leader Mohsin Dawar has shared via a tweet on X that “Taliban have taken over polling stations in Tappi, N. Waziristan in my constituency NA-40”.

    He went on to share that “three of our female polling agents escaped a blast in the morning. I had conveyed my concerns about the security situation in Tappi to the DRO which were ignored. ECP has to take notice.”

    NA-40 same constituency where women are being barred from voting. Journalist Iftikhar Firdous also posted that an unidentified man has been recorded, taking away an entire ballot box. Voting as resumed but women are not being allowed to vote.

  • Pakistani celebrities share election day snaps

    Pakistani celebrities share election day snaps

    It’s polling day across Pakistan. People are turning up at polling stations to cast their votes, and celebrities are right in there too.

    Many Pakistani stars, including Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ayeza Khan, Khalid Anam, Hina Bayat, Kashif Mehmood, Afzal Khan, Sahiba, Osman Khalid Butt, Mahira Khan, Nadia Hussain, Naveen Waqar have already voted. Hina Bayat gave a special message, asking everyone to vote quickly.

    Below, you’ll see some pictures and videos of them taking part in the elections.

  • Nawaz Sharif votes for Imran Khan’s former bestie

    Nawaz Sharif votes for Imran Khan’s former bestie

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif cast his vote in NA-128 Lahore.

    Nawaz Sharif voted for Imran Khan’s former bestie and Istehkam-e-Pakistan’s (IPP) leader, Aun Chaudhry.

    Aun was a member of PTI for a long time and a close associate of Khan. PMLN has supported his candidacy as Nawaz and his family have voted for Aun.

  • ‘If you don’t have internet, print your Google map’ Caretaker Information Minister’s tips on how to go vote

    ‘If you don’t have internet, print your Google map’ Caretaker Information Minister’s tips on how to go vote

    In a controversial move, the Interior Ministry of Pakistan has shut down mobile internet and phones across the country. The move was made minutes before polling stations opened Thursday morning at 8 am.

    To find out what voters could do to find out what their polling information is, since they can no longer send a text message to 8300, The Current contacted Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi.

    “A serious voter will know all the details already,” he told us on the phone, using WiFi for the call. “Serious voters find out a day before what their polling information is like I did. I messaged 8300 the night before and wrote all my information.”

    When we asked if a voter wasn’t able to before, or wasn’t a ‘serious voter’ but was still a ‘voter’ what can they do? “Well, a voter should know his constituency number. They can go to any polling station in their area and might be able to find it,” he said.

    When asked that some people can’t find their polling stations easily, and now that the internet is down, what can they do? He recommended that “for those who want to get to their polling station via Google maps, they should print the map at home and then take it and follow it. I used to do this when I was in America, and it’s very easy to do.”

    Solangi also said that people used to vote before mobiles existed and can now as well.

    But if a voter has issues finding their information, PTI is offering an alternative. You can send your ID card number to Imran Khan’s Facebook page and they will reply, with your block number, polling station. Even if you are not a PTI voter, you will still be able to get your relevant information.

  • Nawaz Sharif casts his vote in NA-128 Lahore

    Nawaz Sharif casts his vote in NA-128 Lahore

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif has cast his vote in NA-128 Lahore along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz. Nawaz Sharif cast his vote for the first time in nearly six years.

  • What problems can you face after internet and mobile services are shut down?

    What problems can you face after internet and mobile services are shut down?

    As voters queued up to participate in the contentious elections in Pakistan, a significant disruption emerged: the suspension of mobile phone services across the country.

    While authorities defended the measure as a necessary step to maintain order, critics argued that it severely limited access to vital information during the crucial voting process.

    The decision to suspend mobile services has sparked concerns among citizens, particularly regarding their ability to locate their designated polling stations using the 8300 SMS service, a widely relied-upon method for voters to find their voting locations.

    They can also not use Google Maps to reach their desired location and ride-hailing applications are also not working.

    Furthermore, the suspension of mobile services has hindered the reporting and highlighting of irregularities in the elections.

    Without access to mobile networks, citizens are facing challenges in documenting and sharing any potential discrepancies or violations occurring at polling stations, raising questions about the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) wants people to use their toll-free numbers to lodge complaints directly with the ECP, but citizens cannot do so because their mobile networks are not working.

    Amidst the disruptions, some citizens have suggested utilizing Wi-Fi devices or cable internet with Wi-Fi routers, removing passwords, and renaming the devices to “free internet” to facilitate access for those nearby.

    If you can’t send or receive messages from 8300, send your CNIC number to Imran Khan’s Facebook page and you will get the details of your polling station.