Category: Election 2024

Pakistan election 2024, voting began on 8th, and now apparently rigging is taking place as I write. This post is my personal observation

  • No Bat for PTI ka matlab kya, jo bhi? PTI candidate election campaigns that scream creativity

    No Bat for PTI ka matlab kya, jo bhi? PTI candidate election campaigns that scream creativity

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has always remained ahead of others when it comes to the use of social media in Pakistan’s political landscape.

    Data shared in a report from Digital Pakistan 2023 states that the number of internet users in Pakistan swelled to a record 87.35 million in January last year, showing a 4.4 million increase between 2022 and 2023.

    The number of social media users also increased to a record 71.70 million in 2023, including 37.30 million users of Facebook, 71.70 million users of YouTube, 12.95 million on Instagram, and 16.51 million on TikTok.

    Similarly, about 11.95 million people are using Facebook Messenger, 9.30 million Linkedin, 25.70 million Snapchat, and 4.65 million users of X — formerly Twitter — in the wake of an increase in mobile connections to 191.8 million in January 2023 in Pakistan.

    The importance of social media is made very clear by the fact that there is news circulating that the internet might be shut down two days prior to the election. Young Pakistanis will be turning to social media for the truth on election day and if the election is to be seen as free and fair, social media will be the judge and the jury, senior producer and journalist Marium Chaudhary said while talking to TheCurrent.

    The results show the importance of social media in the election arena. Its power was fully exhibited when a huge number of supporters turned up online using VPNs when the internet was down during PTI’s virtual jalsa.

    Senior Journalist Benazir Shah recently tweeted that according to a google search, PTI has emerged as the most searched political party in the last fortnight.
    As the elections are approaching in less than a month, the party is in a crisis because they have been stripped from their preferred election symbol of a cricketing bat.

    The candidates however have been issued varying symbols from a human eye to an eggplant.

    PTI’s candidate Zain Pervaiz from PS-99 has been given the symbol of human eye and he used a creative way to propagate it. He made a rip-off of the famous Tahir Shah’s song Eye to Eye.

    In another video, a clip from a cartoon film is extracted to publicise the symbol of eye.

    The same candidate, Zain Parvez, came up with a clip from a Pakistani Drama where the heroine is seen saying that she will only what Zain wants her to do.

    As a candidate was allotted the symbol of a desi bed (charpayi), he got a charpayi painted in colours of the PTI flag. Along with that they were seen chanting the slogan, “Aye Aye Charpayi”.

    The same candidate got a charpayi made adorned with fairy lights and released a song titled, “Charpayi da nishan, Rakho yad meri jan”.

    The candidate alloted the sign of brinjal has taken a huge leap of creativity by releasing a “baingan song”. This symbol of is given to the candidate of PTI from NA 46.

    The meme brigade were tickled enough to promote the different election symbols including a wheelchair where the punch line was give vote to wheelchair to be able to get the system back on foot.

    The meme for the symbol tap, that is “Nalka” shows a clip from an Indian movie.

    Summing up the whole confusion folk singer Malko released a song with lyrics implying, whatever the symbol is, vote will be cast to Khan.

    Apart from the hilarious campaigns by PTI, the party is also seriously pursuing the upcoming elections by using social media. The party has launched an online portal containing detailed information of candidate names & symbols to avoid disinformation.

  • Former cricketer Khalid Latif will contest election on TLP ticket

    Former cricketer Khalid Latif will contest election on TLP ticket

    Former Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif has decided to contest the upcoming general elections on behalf of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP).

    Right-handed cricketer Latif, who has represented Pakistan in five One-Day Internationals, is contesting from the provincial assembly seat PS 89, Malir in Karachi.

    According to Geo News, TLP chief Saad Rizvi had contacted Khalid Latif to offer him a ticket pitched against PPP’s Hakeem Baloch from NA-231.

    Sources say that Khalid Latif has accepted the PS 89 ticket, leading to a contest against Saleem Baloch of PPP and Ashraf Samu of PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Shoaib Haider.

    In September 2023 Khalid Latif was sentenced for inciting the murder of far-right politician Geert Wilders. Latif was being tried in absentia in the Netherlands.

  • Why are electoral symbols important, and how does ECP allot them to candidates?

    Why are electoral symbols important, and how does ECP allot them to candidates?

    Electoral symbols are allocated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to political parties and independent candidates participating in general elections.

    Major political parties in the country have established electoral symbols, including a bat for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), an arrow for Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and a tiger for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    All the electoral symbols appear on the ballot paper, giving the voters the choice to stamp the symbol of their choice. The ballot paper also has names, but 40% of the country’s 241 million population is illiterate, so symbols can be easier to identify.

    Thousands of candidates participate in elections, as do dozens of political parties and millions of voters. A single ballot paper offers voters a wide range of choices.

    How does the ECP allot electoral symbols?

    According to Section 216, political parties can submit an application to the election commission to apply for electoral symbols.

    Registered political parties can claim the same election symbol as allocated to them in the previous polls.

    On the other hand, an independent candidate can apply for allotment of an election symbol from the symbol list published by the ECP.

    If the two independent candidates want the same electoral symbol, then priority will be given to the candidate who has previously taken part in elections.

  • A complete list of women taking part in elections on February 8

    A complete list of women taking part in elections on February 8

    The 2024 elections are approaching in Pakistan, and political parties have nominated candidates from different constituencies to contest the polls. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has allotted election symbols to all the candidates. Female candidates are also taking part in the elections set to take place on February 8, 2024, SAMAA has reported.

    After the 2018 general elections, there were 11.74 million more women than men on the voter rolls, bringing the overall number of registered voters in the country to 127 million from the previous 106 million.

    Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) has approved six general seat tickets for female candidates, including PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Saira Afzal Tarar, Nosheen Iftikhar, Shazra Mansab Ali, Tehmina Doultana, and Syeda Shehrbanu Bukhari.

    On the other hand, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) allotted its ticket to Shazia Marri, Dr Sawera Prakash for PK-25 in Buner, Sajida Tabassum for PK-39 in Mansehra, Shaista Raza for PK-48 in Haripur, Dr Ghazala Atta for PK-49 in Swabi-I, Aneela Shahzad for PK-54 in Mardan. The PPP candidate Shazia Tehmas for NA-24 in Charsadda, Mehr Sultana for NA-38 in Karak, and Farzana Shireen for NA-39 in Bannu to contest the election for a National Assembly (NA) seat.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allotted tickets to 21 women to take part in the upcoming general election.

    In Punjab, former MNA Iman Tahir Sadiq from Attock, former MPA Seemabia Tahir from Rawalpindi, former adviser to Prime Minister Usman Dar from Sialkot Rehana Imtiaz Dar, former MNA from Lahore Alia Hamza Malik, former provincial minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Sidra Faisal from Kasur, Mehr Bano Qureshi daughter of Shah Mahmood Qureshi from Multan, Ayesha Nazir Jatt daughter of former MNA Nazir Jatt from Vahari, Mrs. Talat Basra wife of Shaukat Basra from Bahawalnagar, and former MNA Kanwal Shuzab from Bahawalpur will contest.

    PTI allotted National Assembly tickets to Mrs. Qamar Javed Waraich from Rahim Yar Khan (RYK), Mrs. Humira Ahmad Khan from Muzaffargarh, Mrs. Anbar Majeed Niazi, wife of ex-MNA Majeed Niazi from Layyah, and former minister Zartaj Gul Wazir from Dera Ghazi Khan (D.I. Khan).

    PTI also approved National Assembly tickets for Umbreen Malik from Khairpur, Hamida Masood Shah from Sanghar, Maherul Nasa Baloch from Tharparkar, Nazish Fatima Bhatti from Matiari, Rozeena Bhutto from Tando Ulyar, Shabana Nawab Bajarani from Dadu, and former MNA Shandana Gulzar from Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa NA-30 Peshawar.

  • ‘A terrorist group could not be given a political party’s electoral symbol’: Maryam Nawaz

    ‘A terrorist group could not be given a political party’s electoral symbol’: Maryam Nawaz

    In the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) inaugural rally for the upcoming general elections in Okara, the party’s Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz strongly criticized political rivals Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) without naming it, calling it a “terrorist party” and questioning the allocation of an electoral symbol to such an entity.

    The PML-N, which had faced delays in launching its campaign, is now gearing up for the February 8 polls and is set to reveal its manifesto.

    The delay in the campaign kick-off was attributed to the PML-N’s extensive deliberations on ticket distribution and seat adjustments with the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

    Party leader Nawaz Sharif, concerned about his party being labeled the ‘favorite’ of the establishment, aims to dispel the impression during the election campaign, according to insider sources.

    During her address to party supporters, Maryam Nawaz, without explicitly naming the PTI, asserted that a “terrorist party” should not be assigned an election symbol like other political entities.

    She hurled an array of criticism at Imran Khan during the address and blamed him for orchestrating and carrying out the May 9 violent attacks.

    She mocked Khan for snatching of his electoral symbol, saying that his election symbol should not be a bat but a “baton”.

    The PML-N chief organizer also dubbed Imran Khan’s party a group of terrorists. “A terrorist group could not be given a political party’s electoral symbol,” she said.

    “Your electoral symbol should be the watch that you stole or the petrol bomb that you hurled on police officials,” she said, adding “what goes around comes around”.

    “Your electoral symbol was not bat but baton with which you attacked military installments. The baton has been snatched from your hand,” she maintained.

    Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the PTI’s current situation is a consequence of its own actions and warned that the nation would not tolerate a political party manipulating its internal elections without consequences.

    Referring to Imran Khan without explicitly mentioning his name, Maryam stated, “He was used to getting bails […] he was used to facilitation. But neither the facilitation nor the facilitators remain.”

    She asserted that now only the law and the nation would determine the outcomes.

    Maryam assured supporters that if the PML-N emerged victorious in the upcoming polls, it would prioritize issues such as good education, cheap electricity, women empowerment, and an improved living standard. She stressed that the PML-N did not seek revenge and believed in facing challenges truthfully and honestly.

    The PML-N leader also highlighted that Nawaz Sharif’s “real umpire” was the public, expressing confidence that the people would bring him back to power.

  • ‘Thank you very much’; PTI doesn’t want level playing field from Supreme Court

    ‘Thank you very much’; PTI doesn’t want level playing field from Supreme Court

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has officially withdrawn its petition from the Supreme Court in which it sought a level playing field in the upcoming general elections.

    The party’s decision was revealed during the hearing on Monday, after counsel Latif Khosa conveyed the PTI’s intention to pursue the matter through what he referred to as the “court of 250 million people.”

    The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and including Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Musarrat Hilali, presided over the hearing.

    During the proceedings, Khosa gave words to PTI’s discontent, claiming that the court had deprived the party of 230 seats through a previous judgment.
    “We do not want to fight this case in your [Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa’s] court. Thank you very much,” said Khosa.

    He highlighted the alleged humiliation faced by the party, citing instances where symbols like glass, eggplant, and a bowl were assigned to PTI candidates.

    CJP Qazi Faez Isa inquired whether the PTI intended to pursue the case, to which Khosa responded that he had been instructed to withdraw the application. “We came to you for a level playing field for fair and transparent elections,” he remarked.

    Chief Justice Isa reminded the PTI that the court had repeatedly sought evidence of intra-party elections, emphasizing that the judges should not be held responsible for the verdict.

    He asserted that the court’s role is to ensure elections are conducted within the confines of the law, and if the PTI disliked the decision, they should consider legislative changes.

    Khosa argued that the court’s decision would undermine democracy and claimed that the PTI was being pushed out of parliamentary politics. He disclosed that the party’s leaders would now participate in elections as independent candidates.
    “You are destroying all the institutions of Pakistan,” the CJP told Khosa.
    Meanwhile, Justice Musarrat Hilali raised reservations over the ECP’s conduct and its handling of matters related to PTI ahead of the polls on February 8.
    “The Election Commission is not fair. It is running behind one party,” she remarked during the hearing, asking whether the electoral body can see any other parties or not. “Does the Election Commission not see other parties?”

    The Supreme Court had previously revoked PTI’s cricket bat symbol, citing irregularities in the party’s internal elections held in the preceding year. The court asserted that the PTI failed to comply with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s directive to conduct intra-party polls in 2021.

  • Barrister Gohar Khan’s family ‘attacked’ in Islamabad

    Barrister Gohar Khan’s family ‘attacked’ in Islamabad

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has alleged that his family was subjected to an attack while he was present in the Supreme Court on Saturday. The incident unfolded during the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea challenging the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) verdict favoring the PTI in the bat symbol and intra-party polls case.

    Upon receiving the distressing update, the PTI chief promptly left the premises of the Supreme Court. During a conversation with his colleague and fellow party member Barrister Ali Zafar, Barrister Gohar expressed concern over the safety of his family.

    “News has just come from home. People came in four double cabins and took the computer,” he stated, highlighting the severity of the incident.

    Barrister Gohar informed his colleague that his sons and nephews had been physically assaulted during the attack. The PTI lawyer, addressing the courtroom, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that some people reached his home and beat up his family members.

    X (former Twitter) user Salaar Khan wrote, “Barrister Ghar Ali Khan informs the Supreme Court that unidentified personnel have entered his home and beaten up his family. He asks the court for indulgence and is told people are looking into it.
    He begs the court for indulgence to explain. The scene cuts.”

    In response to the unsettling news, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Isa expressed disapproval, stating, “Whatever happened should not have happened.” He then summoned the additional attorney general to address the matter promptly.

    The additional attorney general assured the court that he would investigate the incident and left the courtroom. The reported attack on Barrister Gohar Khan’s family adds a concerning dimension to the ongoing legal proceedings, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation unfolds.

  • Karachi police faces severe shortage of security personnel ahead of General Elections

    Karachi police faces severe shortage of security personnel ahead of General Elections

    As the nation braces for the upcoming general elections, Karachi police is facing a substantial shortage of 14,300 security personnel, including female officers.

    As per The News, Khadim Hussain Rind, the additional inspector general (AIG) of Karachi, revealed that the city’s police force had initiated robust security arrangements for the elections scheduled for February 8.

    However, he underscored the significant shortfall in required personnel.

    “Over 46,076 police personnel are needed for the election security plan, while Karachi Police have only 31,776. The required number of female police personnel is also not available,” said the AIG.

    He elaborated on the specific needs for female personnel, highlighting, “At least 3,200 female personnel are required for security arrangements at women’s polling stations while we have 1,200 female personnel. The KPO faces a shortage of 2,000 lady cops.”

    As per the security plan, eight police personnel are required for the most sensitive, six for sensitive and four for normal polling stations each. In Karachi, there are 2,033 most sensitive stations, 3,008 sensitive stations, and 308 polling stations are declared normal, while 16,264, 18,048, and 1,232 personnel respectively are required for them.

    Rind disclosed that 35,544 personnel would be assigned to duty at 5,349 polling stations in the megacity.

    Additionally, a quick response force is set to be deployed at polling stations, with 3,892 personnel assigned to 2,774 buildings. Furthermore, 4,210 police officers will be placed on reserve duty under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), accompanied by nine Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), 16 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 57 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), and 107 Station House Officers (SHOs).

    The AIG outlined plans to allocate 2,430 personnel for various election commission offices, welfare duties, hospitals, and miscellaneous tasks.

    However, he emphasized the glaring shortage of 14,300 police personnel and revealed that multiple options were under consideration to address this gap. Possibilities include deploying lady health workers, and polio staff, or hiring private security guards, anti-encroachment, excise police, anti-corruption, or forest department personnel to bolster the existing security measures.

    As the elections draw near, efforts are underway to mitigate the shortfall and ensure the safety and integrity of the electoral process in Karachi.

  • Family ties; PML-N candidate list favours relatives

    Family ties; PML-N candidate list favours relatives

    As the general elections loom closer, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has disclosed its roster of candidates for both the National and Punjab Assemblies, drawing attention for granting tickets to more than 30 family members, as reported by The News.

    The announcement was made by Ishaq Dar, PML-N’s Head of Election Cell, marking a pivotal moment in the party’s preparations for the upcoming political showdown.

    In a notable revelation, 36 candidates have familial ties, including father-son, father-daughter, husband-wife, brother-in-law, mother-son, father-in-law, and uncle-nephew relationships among them.

    PML-N stalwarts Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are set to contest the National Assembly polls from Lahore, while PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz will participate in both the National Assembly and provincial assembly polls.

    Malik Saif ul Mulook Khokhar, the President of PML-N Lahore, and his son Faisal Ayub, have secured tickets for the National and provincial assemblies, respectively.

    Afzal Khokhar and his nephew Irfan Shafi Khokhar from Lahore are also contesting on PML-N tickets.

    From Dera Ghazi Khan, former minister Awais Leghari and his son Amar Leghari are nominated for National Assembly seats in Rajanpur.

    Additionally, former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique is vying for a National Assembly seat, while his brother Salman Rafiq is contesting for a provincial assembly seat, both from Lahore.

    In Muzaffargarh, former minister Syed Basit Bukhari and his daughter Syeda Shahr Bano Bukhari have been fielded as candidates.

    From Bahawalpur, Iqbal Chanar is nominated for a National Assembly seat, with his son Zaheer Iqbal Chanar is contending for a provincial assembly seat.

    Chaudhry Khalid Javed Waraich and his son Uqba Waraich are PML-N’s candidates for the National and provincial assemblies from Toba Tek Singh, respectively.

    Yaqoob Shaikh is contesting for the National Assembly from Jhang, while his wife Rashida Yaqoob is running for a provincial assembly seat.

    Notable leaders like Daniyal Aziz didn’t make it to the list.

    PML-N ticket distribution extends to various regions, including Kasur, Vehari, Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Lodhran, Khanewal, and Sheikhupura, with candidates such as Rana Hayat, Begum Tahmina Daultana, Amjad Farooq Khosa, Siddique Baloch, and Mian Javed Latif, among others.

    Notably, the PML-N has introduced eight new faces in Punjab for National Assembly tickets, including Bilal Azhar Kayani and Attaullah Tarar. The party has also allocated tickets to six women for the National Assembly and three for the provincial assembly in Punjab, showcasing a diverse candidate pool.

  • PTI yet to finalise candidates from 34 NA constituencies

    PTI yet to finalise candidates from 34 NA constituencies

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a list of its candidates for National Assembly (NA) seats for the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    The former ruling party has opted to nominate candidates from all 266 national assembly seats throughout Pakistan. Nonetheless, numerous constituencies have been labelled as ‘pending’, primarily due to disagreements in candidate selection.

    In all, the naming of candidates in at least 34 NA constituencies is pending, including from Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Kasur, Khanewal, Sahiwal, and Pakpattan.

    Former prime minister and founder of PTI, Imran Khan, is currently in Adiala jail after being convicted in the Toshakhana case. His nomination papers have been rejected.

    Surprisingly, PTI has nominated candidates to compete against its former close ally Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, and his nephew, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq.

    PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan is a candidate from NA-10 Buner-I, while Omar Ayub Khan is contesting from NA-18, Haripur.