The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to conduct a crucial meeting today, focusing on the worsening state of law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, as general elections are set to take place on February 8, The News reported on Thursday.
In the past few weeks, there has been a significant increase in attacks on political rallies, camp offices, and candidates, as well as terror incidents, especially in the two restive provinces.
The ECP directed KP’s chief secretary and inspector general of police to submit a detailed report on the murder of independent candidate, Rehan Zeb Khan, contesting for the National Assembly (NA) seat from NA-8 Bajur.
The unidentified persons gunned down the young political activist on Wednesday in his hometown while he was canvassing for votes.
An ECP notification stated that “The scheduled meeting in Islamabad on Thursday at 3pm will be attended by the minister and secretary of interior, chief secretaries, inspectors general of KP and Balochistan, and officials from intelligence agencies.”
ECP also asked for an immediate report from the Balochistan chief secretary and inspector general of police on the bomb attack at a political party’s election office.
General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) presided over the 262nd Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) held at GHQ, today. Forum paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of Shuhadas including officers and men of the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies and the citizens who have laid their lives for ensuring peace and stability in the country.
Forum resolved that terrorists, their facilitators and abettors, working on behest of hostile forces to destabilise Pakistan, will be dealt with full might of the state. COAS stated that Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacrosanct and inviolable. Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence with all states, however, there would never be any compromise over country’s sovereignty, national honour and aspirations of Pakistani people.
The forum was briefed on the callous Indian campaign of extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings, perpetuating state-sponsored terrorism and targeting Pakistani citizens. The forum agreed that blatant violation of international laws by India and its real face be exposed to the world. The international community has already shown serious concerns over the criminal behaviour of India and its use of state apparatus for killing spree around the world.
The forum reiterated unequivocal support for Palestine and the people of Gaza while noting the extremely negative fallout of the conflict and the potential to spill over in the wider region. The immediate need for a permanent ceasefire and enduring solution to the Palestinian question was unanimously recognised. In the same vein, Pakistan’s resolve to support the people of IIOJK for their right of self determination was reiterated.
Pakistan would continue to morally, politically and diplomatically support Kashmir brothers and sisters till justice is served in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions. The forum also discussed deployment of Pakistan Army to assist Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the peaceful conduct of General Elections 2024.
Pakistan Army will perform assigned duties as per the Constitutional mandate, under the guidelines of ECP. No one would be allowed to indulge in violence in the name of political activity and sabotage the quintessential democratic exercise of conduct of free and fair elections. The forum acknowledged and appreciated the steps taken against spectrum of illegal activities and criminal mafias including smuggling, hoarding, money laundering, power theft and illegal aliens. The participants emphasised that such actions and their positive impact on the economy and well being of the people need to continue without any let up. The forum was briefed on operational preparedness of the formations. COAS asked formation commanders to continue their focus on the training, administration and morale of the soldiers.
*ISPR* General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) presided over the 262nd Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) held at GHQ, today.
Forum paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of Shuhadas including officers and men of the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement… pic.twitter.com/pJDIqopyB5
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Tuesday that it will complete the process of printing ballot papers by February 2, as the upcoming elections are set to take place on February 8, 2024.
Electoral authorities directed security officials to deliver ballot papers in all provinces across the country.
The ECP spokesperson said that three government press institutes are currently printing ballot papers, and the process is going well.
“The printing work, which started on January 16 after the allotment of election symbols by returning officers (ROs), will be completed in the next four days, i.e. by February 2,” the ECP official said.
He also stated that returning officers (ROs) and district administrations have started the delivery process of ballot papers with the help of security officials. The ballot papers will be delivered by both road and air.
Other than that, the ECP official also said that people can send SMS at 8300 to get information about their polling station.
Voters will have to send their identity card number to 8300 to get their vote information. All voters have been requested to get details of their and their families’ votes on time so that they do not face any problems finding polling stations.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released a detailed summary of polling stations and booths as the upcoming elections are set to take place on February 8, 2024, across the country.
The electoral watchdog’s data shows that they’ve set up a total of 90,675 polling stations across the country. Out of these, 25,320 are specifically for male voters, while 23,950 are for female voters. They’ll also have 41,405 combined polling stations open for everyone to use.
In Punjab, the ECP will establish around 50,944 polling stations, including 14,556 for men, 14,036 for women, and 22,352 that both men and women can use. In Sindh, they’re planning to set up 19,006 polling stations, with 4,439 for men, 4,308 for women, and 10,259 where both genders can vote.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will host around 15,697 polling stations, distributing 4,814 for men, 4,289 for women, and 6,594 combined polling stations. Meanwhile, Balochistan will have 5,028 polling stations catering to both male and female voters.
Furthermore, the summary stated that Punjab will have 149,434 polling booths, Sindh will have 65,005, KP will have 47,081, and Balochistan will have 14,882.
The Supreme Court (SC) has on Friday granted major relief to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) by allowing three of its frontline candidates, including incarcerated party president Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, to contest the upcoming February 8 elections.
The top court on Friday approved appeals of PTI candidates Umer Aslam, Major (retd) Tahir Sadiq, and Elahi against Returning Officer decisions to reject their nomination papers from multiple constituencies.
Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has been allowed to contest from Gujarat district’s PP-32 seat.
The former chief minister of Punjab had filed a petition in the apex court to challenge the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) verdict of upholding the decision of the Election Tribunal to reject his nomination paper.
A three-member bench of the SC, comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Athar Minallah, heard Elahi’s plea.
سپریم کورٹ نے چوہدری پرویز الٰہی کو الیکشن لڑنے کیلئے اہل قرار دے دیا
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has informed all election candidates that there will be no election campaign after midnight on February 6 for the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8.
The ECP’s spokesperson said while talking to The News that, “According to Section 182 of the Elections Act 2017, no person shall hold or participate in any public meeting, procession, corner meeting or such political activity after midnight on February 6, 2024 and February 7, 2024.”
“Therefore, legal action will be taken against any person who violates the above provision of the law,” the spokesperson added.
On the other hand, caretaker federal minister for Communications, Maritime Affairs, and Railways Shahid Ashraf Tarar briefed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on the preparations of federal and provincial governments for elections.
Earlier last week, the ECP released its ‘Code of Conduct for Security Personnel’ cautioning them to avoid bias when they are on election duty.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has confirmed that 18,000 candidates are going to contest for national and provincial assembly seats in the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8.
ECP released its final list of candidates on Sunday.
According to the ECP, 11,785 candidates will take part as independent candidates in the polls, and 6,031 will compete under the banner of their respective political parties.
On the other hand, some well-known politicians, including founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and Asfandyar Wali, are out of the race for multiple reasons.
After having been denied their preferred election symbol after its intra-party elections were found to be contrary to its own constitution and relevant laws, PTI has fielded its candidates as independents, and each one of them has been allotted a different symbol.
On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is contesting the elections from NA-15, Mansehra, and NA-130. The former prime minister and Nawaz’s brother, Shehbaz Sharif, is taking part in polls from NA-123, Kasur, and NA-132, Lahore.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the caretaker government have said that the border clash between Pakistan and Iran will not affect the upcoming general polls set to take place on February 8, 2024.
On a question regarding border tensions erupting between Iran and Pakistan, the spokesperson of the ECP affirmed that the upcoming general elections will be held on the announced date.
“The ECP is busy in preparation for the elections, and there is no proposal or consideration about reviewing the election date because of the Pak-Iran tension.
“We are working as usual and all set to hold elections on February 8,” he said.
Caretaker information minister Murtaza Solangi said that elections will be held on time. He said that the Pakistan-Iran tension will not affect the elections and its schedule.
When asked about the security requirements needed to hold the elections, the information minister said that the government will provide the required security to the ECP for the holding of elections in a peaceful manner. “There is now no backstepping from general elections on the announced date,” assured the minister.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed withdrew from the general elections 2024 on Thursday.
During the hearing of the petition filed against his nomination papers in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Murad Saeed’s lawyer told the court that he had returned the ticket and he was not participating in the elections.
The Peshawar High Court bench, comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Aijaz Anwar, and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, entertained a plea regarding the rejection of Murad Saeed’s nomination papers and subsequently rendered its decision.
However, it was revealed during the proceedings that the petitioner had withdrawn the application, informing the court that the ticket had been voluntarily returned.
On Wednesday, the bench reserved its decision on the petition against the rejection of the PTI leader’s nomination papers.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked in yesterday’s hearing regarding what the law says when a person is declared a fugitive and does not surrender before the law.
When a person does not appear in front of the law, how can the papers be approved, he will be elected again and legislate, he asked.
The Advocate General said in his arguments that when a person becomes a fugitive, he loses some basic rights and he has no right to vote or contest election.
The court stated in its remarks that, “It will then be used as a weapon to prevent anyone from the election”.
While reserving the decision on Murad Saeed’s appeal, the court declared the documents of Shehram Tarkai and Atif Khan to be correct in this regard.
A three-member bench of PHC upheld the decision of the Election Tribunal and rejected the petitions against the approval of Shahram Tarkai and Atif Khan’s papers.
In a surprising turn of events within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), party founding chief Imran Khan has reportedly instructed senior vice chairman Sher Afzal Marwat to suspend all political activities in Sindh.
Disagreements between Marwat and other party leaders, including Raoof Hasan and Barrister Hamid Khan, have escalated, leading to a temporary halt in political engagements.
The directive from Imran Khan came a day after Marwat initially announced the suspension of the election campaign in Sindh, citing an alleged “attack” by party leaders Raoof Hasan and Hamid Khan.
“Keeping in view the statements against me by sick-minded people like Hamid Khan and Rauf Hassan, I am calling off my campaign in Sindh,” said Marwat.
Keeping in view the statements against me by sick-minded people like Hamid Khan and Rauf Hassan, I am calling off my campaign in Sindh. Why these people are targeting me? Did I ever talk against them? I am so disheartened and feel so dejected. We were to hold concentions in…
However, conflicting statements emerged later after Marwat declared his intention to continue the polls campaign.
“Workers are right and I will continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh. I will not be distracted,” wrote Marwat.
Workers are right and I will continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh. I will not be distracted. At the same time I urge the PTI workers to deal all the satanic forces at your own. We have two events today, a public rally in Mehmud Abad and convention at Pehlawan Ghot Karachi.…
In a social media post, he expressed his determination to continue campaigning for PTI in Sindh, urging party activists to confront what he referred to as “satanic forces” independently.
The internal strife unfolded after Marwat launched the PTI’s election drive in Sindh but later called it off due to statements against him by party leaders.
The controversy intensified as Marwat accused President Arif Alvi of being a “wrong number” and alleged a conspiracy against the party.
In response, Hasan and Hamid disowned Marwat’s statements, asserting that he did not represent the party’s position and had no official post within PTI.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of PTI, addressed the media, emphasizing the party’s commitment to democratic values and calling for unity among party members. Despite internal disagreements, he expressed confidence in Marwat’s candidacy for the upcoming elections from Lakki Marwat.
The ongoing disputes raise questions about Marwat’s purported meetings with Imran Khan in jail, with conflicting statements from PTI leaders.
While Hasan claimed no political leader was allowed to meet Imran, Gohar Ali Khan affirmed Marwat’s continued affiliation with the party.
As PTI works towards finalizing its candidate list for the February 8 elections, the internal conflicts underscore the challenges inherent in the democratic process. PTI members are urged to set aside personal differences for the party’s success in the upcoming polls.
