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

  • Electioneering in Sindh – VI

    Electioneering in Sindh – VI

    In the last part of this series on election politics in Sindh, we will look into three districts – Thatta, Jamshoro, and Dadu districts of the Hyderabad division, where four National Assembly (NA) and nine provincial assembly (PA) seats are at stake. On NA 223 Thatta, 12 candidates are contesting the polls. Sadiq Ali Memon of PPP, Imtiaz Ahmed of JI, Junaid Siddiqi of MQM-P, Rasool Bux Jakhro of – and Syed Jameel Ahmed Shah Bukhari of PTI are the main contenders. Looking at the 2018 results, it looks like the PPP candidate has a clear lead over his opponents. Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi of PPP, Muhammad Farooque of PTI, Abdullah Adam Gandro of JI, Muhammad Arshad Memon of JUI-F, Mahar Ali Shah of QMM are noticeable among the 12 candidates on PS 75 Thatta-I. Going through past results, it seems the PPP candidate is poised to win this seat. Eights candidates are contesting on PS 76 Thatta-II. Altaf Hussain Kachi of TLP, Saeed-Ur-Rehman of JUI-F, Ali Hassan Zardari of PPP, Muhammad Ali Khan of JI, and Muhammad Umer Nahyo of Khadmeen-e-Sindh are the main competitors in this constituency. The PPP candidate can easily win this seat.

    On the single NA seat – NA 226 – of district Jamshoro, the PPP has awarded ticket to Malik Asad Sikander while Munir Hyder Shah, Ubedullha Jamro, Abdul Hakeem Chandio are running on GDA, TLP and PTI tickets respectively. The GDA candidate will try to put up a fight. However, past results show that the PPP candidate will likely stand victorious. Former chief minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, is contesting to retain his seat on PS 77 Jamshoro-I.

    A total of 15 candidates are in the field against the PPP candidate. GDA’s Roshan Buriro, TLP’s Manzoor Ahmed Halepoto and PTI’s Muhammad Farooq are prominent among them. In 2018, Murad Shah beat Jalal Mehmood Shah of SUP, and this time again, he is the frontrunner. Dr. Sikandar Shoro gave a tough fight to PPP’s Malk Asad Sikandar on then PS 82 Jamshoro as an independent candidate; however, later he joined the PPP and is contesting election on PS 78 Jamshoro-II against Badaruddin of TLP, Syed Munir Hyder Shah of GDA, Sadaf Raza Warraich of PML-N and nine other candidates. The main contestants on this seat are PPP’s Sikandar Shoro and GDA’s Munir Shah. Razia of JUI-F, Malik Sikander Khan of PPP, Meer Ahmed of GDA, Muhammad Tayyab Khan of Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party, Peer Murtaza Ali Shah Jillani of PTI and independent candidate Malik Changez Khan are vying for PS 79 Jamshoro-III. A close contest is expected between PPP candidate Malik Sikander and independent candidate Malik Changez.

    There are two NA seats in Dadu district. On NA 227 Dadu-I, former CM Sindh Liaquat Jatoi is contesting on a GDA ticket after parting ways with PTI. His rivals, among others, are PPP’s Irfan Ali Leghari, JUI-F’s Hajan Khan Leghari, MQM-P’s Zulfiqar Ali and PTI’s Shahana Nawab. PPP’s Irfan Leghari defeated Liaquat Jatoi by getting 95,891 votes while Jatoi got 82,658 in 2018. Incumbency and anger among voters due to the 2022 floods may jeopardise the PPP candidate’s chances of a victory. Rafique Ahmed Jamali of PPP and Karim Ali Jatoi of GDA are again in the field on NA 228 Dadu-II along with 13 other candidates, which include Abdul Majeed Chahwan of MQM-P, Zafar Ali of JI, Rashid Ali of TLP and Abu Bakar of JUI-F. PPP’s Jamali beat Jatoi in 2018 by securing 81,215 votes against Jatoi’s 63,032 while independent candidate Jan Muhammad Panhwar got 19,906 votes. In this constituency, the incumbency factor may go against the PPP candidate.

    On PS 80 Dadu-I, GDA’s Karim Ali Jatoi, PPP’s Abdul Aziz Junejo, MQM-P’s Shahid Hussain Shah, JUI-F’s Taj Muhammad, TLP’s Bashir Sodhar, PTI’s Asghar Ali Sodhar and JI’s Mir Murtaza are prominent among 12 candidates.

    PPP’s absence from the ground during the 2022 floods may favour GDA candidate. Fayaz Butt of PPP, Liaquat Ali Jatoi of GDA, Abdullah of JI, Parveen of TLP, Talib Hussain Panhwar of MQM-P, Muhammad Masood Panhwar of JUI-F and Majeed Khoso of PTI are noticeable among 19 candidates on PS 81 Dadu-II. Although PPP won this seat in 2018, this time the previous ruling party may feel the heat due to its bad handling of the 2022 floods in the area.

    Pir Mujeeb-ul-Haq of PPP is vying on PS 82 Dadu-III against Ashique Ali Zounr of GDA, Shahid Solangi of MQM-P, Zameer Ahmed of JI, Karim Bux Siddiqui of IPP, Zulfiqar Mallah of PTI and 16 other candidates. The GDA candidate will put up a resistance but the PPP candidate has a bit of an upper hand. On PS 83 Dadu-IV, 20 candidates are running for victory, which include Pir Syed Salih Shah Jilani of PPP, Imdad Ali Leghari of GDA, Bandah Ali Leghari (independent) and Anwar Ali Panhwar of PTI. Syed Ghulam Shah Jillani of PPP won this seat in 2018 and after his death, his son Salih Shah Jillani won in the by-elections. Local internal rivalries in the PPP and incumbency factor due to the 2022 floods can cause damage to the PPP candidate here.

  • Yeh election Pakistan ki izzat ka mamla hai: Caretaker Federal Minister Gohar Ijaz

    Yeh election Pakistan ki izzat ka mamla hai: Caretaker Federal Minister Gohar Ijaz

    Caretaker federal minister, Gohar Ijaz, said on Tuesday in a press conference that the election is a matter of Pakistan’s honour, adding that the caretaker government is fulfilling its responsibility of holding elections ‘with honesty’.

    He also said that the law and order situation is now better in Sindh. He further mentioned that the police and civil armed forces have the ability to overcome any adverse law and order situation.

    Ijaz also mentioned that there are no issues between election candidates in Balochistan, and all political parties in the province are in communication with each other.

    He also said that Pakistan is threatened by forces that want to destabilise the country. However, the country’s security system can protect Pakistan from those forces.

  • Educated Pakistani women barred from voting by their husbands

    Educated Pakistani women barred from voting by their husbands

    Perched on her traditional charpai bed, Naeem Kausir says she would like to vote in Pakistan’s upcoming election — if only the men in her family would let her.

    Like all the women in her town, the 60-year-old former headmistress and her seven daughters — six already university-educated — are forbidden from voting by their male elders.

    “Whether by her husband, father, son or brother, a woman is forced. She lacks the autonomy to make decisions independently,” said Kausir, covered in a veil in the courtyard of her home.

    “These men lack the courage to grant women their rights,” the widow told AFP.

    Although voting is a constitutional right for all adults in Pakistan, some rural areas in the socially conservative country are still ruled by a patriarchal system of male village elders who wield significant influence in their communities.

    In the village of Dhurnal in Punjab, spread across crop fields and home to several thousand people, men profess myriad reasons for the ban of more than 50 years.

    “Several years ago, during a period of low literacy rates, a council chairman decreed that if men went out to vote, and women followed suit, who would manage the household and childcare responsibilities?” said Malik Muhammad, a member of the village council.

    In this photograph taken on January 29, 2024, Malik Muhammad, a member of the village council, speaks during an interview with AFP in Dhurnal of Punjab. — AFP

    In this photograph taken on January 29, 2024, Malik Muhammad, a member of the village council, speaks during an interview with AFP in Dhurnal of Punjab. — AFP

    “This disruption, just for one vote, was deemed unnecessary,” he concluded.

    Muhammad Aslam, a shopkeeper, claims it is to protect women from “local hostilities” about politics, including a distant occasion that few seem to remember in the village when an argument broke out at a polling station.

    Others told AFP it was simply down to “tradition”.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has stressed that it has the authority to declare the process null and void in any constituency where women are barred from participating.

    In reality, progress has been slow outside of cities and in areas that operate under tribal norms, with millions of women still missing from the electoral rolls.

    The elders in Dhurnal rely on neighbouring villages to fill a government-imposed quota which maintains that 10 percent of votes cast in every constituency must be by women.

    Those who are allowed to vote are often pressured to pick a candidate of a male relative’s choice.

    In the mountainous region of Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province home to almost 800,000 people, religious clerics last month decreed it un-Islamic for women to take part in electoral campaigns.

    Fatima Butt, a legal expert and a women’s rights activist, said women are allowed to vote in Islam, but that religion is often exploited or misunderstood in Pakistan.

    “Regardless of their level of education or financial stability, women in Pakistan can only make decisions with the ‘support’ of the men around them,” she said.

    Pakistan famously elected the world’s first Muslim woman leader in 1988 — Benazir Bhutto, who introduced policies that boosted education and access to money for women, and fought against religious extremism after military dictator Zia ul-Haq had introduced a new era of Islamisation that rolled back women’s rights.

    However, more than 30 years later, only 355 women are competing for national assembly seats in Thursday’s election, compared to 6,094 men, the election commission has said.

    Pakistan reserves 60 of the 342 National Assembly seats for women and 10 for religious minorities in the Muslim-majority country, but political parties rarely allow women to contest outside of this quota.

    Those who do stand often do so only with the backing of male relatives who are already established in local politics.

    “I have never seen any independent candidates contesting elections on their own,” Zara Butt added.

    Forty-year-old Robina Kausir, a healthcare worker, said a growing number of women in Dhurnal want to exercise their right to vote but they fear backlash from the community if they do — particularly the looming threat of divorce, a matter of great shame in Pakistani culture.

    In this photograph taken on Jan 29, 2024, Robina Kausir, a healthcare worker, looks on during an interview with AFP in Dhurnal of Punjab. — AFP
    In this photograph taken on Jan 29, 2024, Robina Kausir, a healthcare worker, looks on during an interview with AFP in Dhurnal of Punjab. — AFP

    She credits part of the shift to access to information as a result of the rising use of smartphones and social media.

    “These men instil fear in their women — many threaten their wives,” she told AFP.

    Robina, backed by her husband, is one of the few prepared to take the risk.

    When cricketing legend Imran Khan swept to power in the 2018 election, Robina arranged for a minibus to take women to the local polling station.

    Only a handful joined her, but she still marked it as a success and will do the same on Thursday’s election.

    “I was abused but I do not care, I will keep fighting for everyone’s right to vote,” Robina said.

  • Bilawal promises to change Karachi if elected

    Bilawal promises to change Karachi if elected

    Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has promised to change the map of Karachi if he comes into power after winning the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8.

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman promised to ensure Karachi receives its fair share of rights by securing representation in both the provincial and national assemblies.

    “Other parties are contesting polls for their benefits, but the PPP will work for Karachi and protect its mandate,” he said.

    Bilawal Bhutto also stated that everyone other than PPP is engaged in the politics of hatred and revenge.

  • More than 120 million people will vote on February 8, says Murtaza Solangi

    More than 120 million people will vote on February 8, says Murtaza Solangi

    The Caretaker Information Minister, Murtaza Solangi, said on Monday that over 120 million people will vote on February 8, as the general elections are scheduled on the same date.

    According to PTV, he passed the remarks while addressing a ceremony.

    Murtaza Solangi also said that the caretaker government helped the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to make the election process smooth.

    “Elections are just two days away,” he added. “People will choose their representatives by exercising their right to vote.”

    The information minister also said that according to the constitution, elected representatives will run the country.

  • ECP completes printing of 260 million ballot papers

    ECP completes printing of 260 million ballot papers

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Monday that it finished printing 260 million ballot papers for all 859 constituencies across the country, as reported by The News.

    The spokesperson of the electoral body stated that they also completed the reprinting of some ballot papers for a few constituencies on time, as ordered by the Supreme Court (SC).

    He also explained that after printing, the process of delivering ballot papers across the country is in progress and will be completed today.

    The spokesman highlighted that for the 2018 general elections, they printed 220 million ballot papers using 800 tonnes of special security paper. However, for the 2024 general election, they printed 260 million ballot papers, requiring 2,170 tonnes of paper.

    According to the spokesperson, the electoral body faced many challenges during the printing process, but ECP fulfilled its responsibility with honesty and completed the printing of ballot papers on time.

  • Electioneering in Sindh – IV

    Electioneering in Sindh – IV

    In this part we will discuss Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, and Tando Mohammad districts of Hyderabad division of Sindh. Hyderabad is the largest division of Sindh in the context of districts. It consists of nine districts with 13 National Assembly (NA) and 28 provincial assembly (PA) seats.

    Matiari, with two PA seats and one NA seat, is famous for handicrafts of Hala and the tomb of Bhit Shah. The Makhdooms of Hala and famous novelist Bina Shah hail from this district. In NA 216 Matiari, 12 candidates are contesting. However, PPP’s Jami-Uz-Zaman and PML-N Sindh president Bashir Memon, who beside his community is also supported by GDA and JUI-F, are the main contenders on this seat. Jamil-Uz-Zaman won this seat in 2018 by getting over 100,000 votes while his close rival GDA’s Fazal Shah got 50,000 votes. Makhdoom has a bigger challenge to retain his ancestral seat while Memon has to prove his worth. Naseer Memon, brother of Bashir Memon, is the PML-N candidate who, alongside eight others, will challenge PPP’s Mehboob Zaman on PS 56 Matiari-I. Nargis Naz of PTI is also in the running here. Mehboob defeated Naseer in 2018 by taking 50,000 votes, while Naseer got 34,000 votes. On another provincial assembly seat, PS 57 Matiari-II, 15 candidates are testing their luck, but the real contest is expected to take place between PPP’s Fakhar Zaman and GDA’s Syed Jalal Shah. PTI’s Gulzar Hussain is also contesting on this seat. Jalal Shah was beaten by PPP’s Rafiq Zaman in 2018. He got 24,000 votes while the PPP candidate polled around 46,000 votes.

    Tando Allahyar district in Hyderabad division has one NA and two PA seats. PPP’s Zukfiqar Bachani, who won NA 217 in 2018 by getting more than 90,000 votes, is facing 17 candidates. Raheela Magsi of GDA would be his main challenger, while PTI’s Rozina Bhutto is also contesting. Bachani family has been winning this seat continuously since 2002. In 2018, there was seat adjustment between PTI and other anti-PPP political parties and families. Raheela Magsi of GDA, Syed Zia Abbas Shah of PPP, Rashid Hussain Meo are among 23 candidates vying for victory on PS 58 Tando Allahyar-I. In 2018, PPP’s Zia Abbas Shah won this seat while his close rival was PTI’s Ali Palh, who got 34,000 votes against 58,000 votes of PPP candidate. Aslam Leghari of PTI, M. Mohsin Magsi of GDA and Imdad Ali Pitafi and other nine candidates are competing on PS 59 Tando Allahyar-II. Imdad Pitafi of PPP won this seat in 2018 by taking 47,000 votes while his close rival GDA’s Khair Muhammad Khokahr got 39,000 votes. Magsi family will display some resistance, but it seems PPP is poised to retain its hold in this district.

    There are three NA and six provincial assembly seats in Hyderabad district. In 2018, PPP won one NA and three PA seats while the remaining two NA and three PA seats were grabbed by the MQM. In NA 218 Hyderabad-I, 11 candidates are the running. Syed Tariq Hussain of PPP, Nasreen Akhtar of MQM, and Zubair Khadim of JI are prominent among the contestants. PPP may retain this seat. JI’s Meraj-Ul-Huda Siddiqui, Mehmood Qadri of JUP Noorani, Mohammad Ashraf of PkMAP, Ali Muhammad Sahito of PPP, Abdul Aleem Khan of MQMP, Husnain Rashid of PML-N, Mustansir Billah of PTI and Muhammad Momin Kunwar are prominent among 40 candidates who are running for NA 219 Hyderabad-II. MQM will try to retain this seat while others, especially the PPP, are poised to challenge their hegemony. On NA 220 Hyderabad-III, 36 candidates are running. JUP(N)’s Abul Khair Zubair, PML-N’s Khalid Aziz, MQM-P’s Syed Muhammad Hussain, Tahir Majeed of JI, PPP’s Waseem Khan Rajput and PTI’s Faisal Mughal are among notables running on this seat. A close contest is expected here between the PPP and MQM-P.

    PPP candidate Jam Khan Shoro won PS 62 Hyderabad-I in 2018 by getting 35,000 votes. His close rival Ayaz Latif Palijo of GDA got 13,000 votes. In 2024 elections, Jam Khan Shoro is running again to retain the same constituency re-designated as PS 60 Hyderabad-I. His rivals are Afroz Shoro of PTI, Ayaz Latif Palijo of GDA, Sajid Ali of MQM-P, Mehboob Mahesar of JI and 19 others. Hyderabad’s main locally of Sindhi speaking population Qasimabad is in this constituency. Ayaz Latif banks on residents of that area for success. However, here Jam Khan Shoro seems favourite for victory. On PS 61 Hyderabad-II, 22 candidates are contesting in 2024. Anwar Ali of PTI, Fateh Muhammad Shoro of JI, Saeed Ahmed Talpur of JUI-F and Sharjeel Inam Memon of PPP are prominent contestants. Sharjeel Inam Memon won this seat in 2018 by getting 44,000 votes. The PPP candidate is the frontrunner on this seat. On PS 62 Hyderabad-III, the total number of candidates is 35. Awais Khan of PTI, Hashim of ANP, Faizullah of JUI-F, Abdul Jabbar of PPP, Sabir Hussain of MQM-P, Saif-Ul-Rehman of JI, Syed Muhammad Hassan of JUP-N, Saeed Akbar of PkMAP, and Khalid Aziz of PML-N are the prominent among them. Abdul Jabbar of PPP won this seat in 2018. A close contest between the PPP and MQM-P is expected during these polls. 41 contestants are vying on PS 63 Hyderabad-IV. Yasir Talpur of PML-N, Muhammad Rehan Rajput of PTI, Kamran Shafique of MQM-P, Sanam Talpur of PPP and Afaq Nasir of JI are the main contenders. MQM-P’s Naeem Siddiqui won this seat in 2018. PPP’s Sanam Talpur may put some resistance. However, MQM-P may clinch this seat. 45 candidates have fielded their nomination papers on PS 64 Hyderabad-V, which include PPP’s Aajiz Dhamrah, MQM-P’s Muhammad Rashid Khan, JI’s Zaheeruddin Shaikh, Rashid Hameed of PML-N and PTI’s Naeem Uddin. In 2018, MQM-P won this seat; PTI was the runner up while PPP stood third. Although history favours MQM-P, PPP will try to turn the tables. 42 candidates are running on PS 65 Hyderabad-IV. Shoaib Shaukat of PTI, Nazim Ali Arain of JUP-N, Nasir Hussain Qureshi of MQM-P, M. Fareed Qureshi of PPP, and Irfan of JI are the notables among them. MQM-P won this seat in 2018 and they will repeat same in these elections.

  • Electioneering in Sindh – III

    In the previous two parts of this series, we have gone through possible election scenarios in Larkana, Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions of Sindh. In this part we will discuss the situation in Mirpur Khas division. This division has three districts, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot and Tharparkar. Pakistan’s first minority MNA was elected from Mirpur Khas division in the 2018 elections.

    District Mirpur Khas has two National Assembly (NA) and four provincial assembly (PA) seats. In NA 211 Mirpur Khas-I, 20 candidates are testing their luck and the most prominent among them are PPP’s Syed Aftab Shah Jillani, ex-MNA Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Mohammad Asad Ali Junejo of PML-N, Afaque Ahmed Khan of MQM and Raja Abdul Haque. However, the actual contest is between ex-MNA Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, who is running as an independent candidate, and PPP’s Aftab Shah Jillani, who is returning to electoral politics after a decade. In 2018, Ali Nawaz won this seat by getting 75,872 votes, while his closest rival – PPP’s Hasan Ali Shah – got 67,782 votes, MQM, PTI and TLP candidates got 8,869, 4,985 and 2,353 votes respectively. On NA 212 Mirpur Khas-II, PPP’s Mir Munawar Talpur, independent candidate Ali Nawaz Shah, JUI-F’s Ghulam Qadir Khan, PTI’s Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah are prominent among 11 candidates. PPP’s Munawar Talpur, who won this seat in 2018 by getting 105,952 votes trouncing his close rival Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who got 51,208 votes, is said to be the favourite for victory on February 8, 2024. Including Hari Ram, winner of 2018 elections, 35 candidates are running for elections on PS 45 Mirpur Khas-I. MQM dominated this seat in 2002, 2008 and 2013 elections. It has fielded Zafar Ahmed Kamali while the PML-N has awarded a ticket to Abdul Hameed and PTI has nominated Aftab Hussain Qureshi. A close contest is expected in this constituency. PPP’s Zulfiqar Ali Shah, PTI’s Mumtaz Ali Shah, MQM’s Abdul Hameed are among 17 candidates on PS 46 Mirpur Khas-II. On PS 47 Mirpur Khas-III, GDA’s Mir Janullah Talpur, PPP’s Noor Ahmed Bhurgri, PTI’s Ali Raza and independent candidate Ali Nawaz Shah are contesting. A three-way fight between Mir Janullah, Ali Nawaz Shah and Noor Ahmed Bhurgri is expected. GDA’s Inayatullah, PPP’s Mir Tariq Talpur and PTI’s Mohammad Iqbal are among 15 candidates vying for victory on PS 49, Mirpur Khas-IV. Here, Noor Mohammad Bhurgri is poised to win this seat for the PPP.

    On Umerkot’s only seat NA 213, a total of 19 candidates have been awarded symbols by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). A three-way fight is expected between PPP’s Nawab Yousuf Talpur, PML-N’s Mir Amanullah Talpur and PTI’s Lalchand Malhi. In the 2018 elections, Yousuf Talpur beat PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi by getting 164,047 votes, while Qureshi got 104,849 votes. Although votes of minorities and disciples of Ghousia seat of Multan may help the PTI candidate put up a good fight, a split in the anti-PPP votes will benefit the PPP candidate. There are three PA seats in this district. In the 2018 elections, PPP won all PA seats and is vying to repeat the same feat again. PPP’s Sardar Shah, GDA’s Khizar Hayat, PTI’s Ali Akber Palli and independent Ali Murad Rajar are prominent among the 23 candidates running on PS 49 Umerkot-I. Sardar Shah won this seat in 2018 and would like to repeat the same but may see a tough competition by independent candidate Rajar who has the support of his community as well as of Sarwari Jamaat. On PS 50 Umerkot-II, PPP’s Ameer Ali Shah is facing 21 candidates, noticeable among those are GDA’s Ghulam Nabi Mangrio and PTI’s Lekhraj Malhi. Ameer Ali Shah beat Arbab Ghulam Rahim by securing 58,968 votes against Arbab’s 30,832 votes in the bye-election held in 2021. His father also defeated Arbab Ghulam Rahim in the general elections held in 2018. Chances of victory of Ameer Ali Shah seem bright. On PS 51 Umerkot-III, 10 candidates are in the running; however, the main contest is between PPP’s Taimur Talpur and GDA’s Dost Mohammad Memon. History is on the side of Talpur.

    Once the Arbab family was seen as the ‘king’ of Tharparkar district, but in 2018, PPP routed and ended their dominance by winning all but one seat. On NA 214 Tharparkar-I, a total of 11 candidates are contesting. PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PPP’s Ameer Ali Shah Jeelani and Abdul Razzaque are notable among them. In 2018, the father of PPP candidate beat Qureshi by securing 80,047 votes while his opponent bagged 72,884 votes. In 2018, Qureshi was supported by the Arbabs. However, this time they have fielded their local ally Rahmoon, so the benefit of a three-way contest may go in the favour of the PPP candidate. On another seat – NA 215 Tharparkar-II – 20 candidates are in the field: GDA’s Arbab Ghulam Rahim, PPP’s Mahesh Kumar Malani and PTI’s Mehar-Un-Nisa Baloch are prominent among those candidates. In the last elections, the PPP candidate beat GDA’s Arbab Zakaullah by a margin of 20,000 votes. Although an interesting contest is expected on this seat, the split in anti-PPP votes between GDA and PTI may favour PPP’s Malani. On PS 52 Tharparkar-I, 11 candidates are contesting: GDA’s Sher Khan and PPP’s Dost Muhammad are the main contenders. In 2018, GDA won this seat. On PS 53 Tharparkar-II, GDA’s Arbab Anwar Jabbar, PPP’s Muhamad Qasim Soomro, JUI-F’s Umer Farooq, PTI’s Pehlaj Rai and 10 other candidates are pitched against each other. In 2018, Qasim Soomro won this seat. Soomro and GDA candidate are the main contestants here. On PS 54 Tharparkar-III, among 12 aspirants, PPP’s Faqeer Sher Muhammad Bilalani, GDA’s Arbab Togachi Fawad Razzaq, PPP’s Sher Muhammad Bilalani, PTI’s Lajpat Rai are the main competitors. Bilalani defeated Arbab by a difference of 21,000 votes. Although 18 candidates are in the race, it is a contest between a family on PS 55 Tharparkar-IV. Arbab Lutifullah of PPP is in the against Arbab Zakaullah. Voters will decide who will be the new king of Tharparkar.

  • ‘Real youth, not ‘mummy daddy’ ones, support PML-N, says Nawaz Sharif

    ‘Real youth, not ‘mummy daddy’ ones, support PML-N, says Nawaz Sharif

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif criticised supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying in a rally that the country’s “real youth” stands behind his party, if not the “mummy-daddy” ones.

    PML-N and other political opponents have always accused PTI of attracting “privileged youth” or “wannabes,” who they say lack traditional values and commitments. They use phrases like “mummy-daddy” to suggest that the party’s supporters aren’t genuine.

    “Some people say the youth support someone else. But no, youth, not the mummy-daddy ones, are with Muslim League Noon. The real Pakistani youth. That’s why Nawaz Sharif loves you,” the ex-prime minister told a rally in Faisalabad on Friday.

    Nawaz Sharif is aiming to become prime minister for the fourth time, after receiving legal relief from courts in multiple cases. After the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision, the PML-N supremo is now eligible to contest elections.

    The competition in the upcoming general elections is seemingly between PML-N and its former ally, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), as the popular PTI is seemingly out of the election race, with it’s candidates contesting as independents. The founder of PTI, Imran Khan, is currently in Adiala jail.

    Earlier, an accountability court sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, to 14 years in prison in the Toshakhana reference.

  • In a first, Peshawar High Court orders separate queue for transgender voters

    In a first, Peshawar High Court orders separate queue for transgender voters

    Peshawar High Court has directed authorities in the province to establish a separate queue for transgender voters in PK-81 from where trans rights activist Sobia Khan is contesting elections as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first transgender individual participating in general polls.

    The court’s verdict highlighted the absence of specific documents for the transgender quota, as no such provision currently exists. Additionally, the court-mandated security measures for transgender candidate Subiya during the general elections, where she is running independently in PK-81.

    Who is Sobia Khan?

    Sobia is hailing from Peshawar and she has filed nomination papers for the provincial assembly seat from constituency PK-81. She is running her campaign as an independent candidate.

    Notably, Sobia Khan, a graduate and the first transgender broadcaster in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been hosting TNN’s “Sobiya Khan Show” for the past four years.

    Sobia welcomed the court ruling. Talking to Tribal News Network, Sobia detailed her broader goals, aiming not only to champion transgender rights but also to challenge societal perceptions. She aspires to work for the welfare of the constituency, particularly focusing on the rights of women and children, breaking stereotypes about the capabilities of transgenders.

    Sobia Khan, backed by her family and local support, appealed to NGOs, civil society, and the district administration for assistance in her election campaign. Acknowledging the unprecedented nature of a transgender participating directly in elections, she stressed the need for security during her campaign.