Tag: Imran Khan

  • More voters, less turnout: FAFEN on Feb 8 polls

    More voters, less turnout: FAFEN on Feb 8 polls

    The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has reported that around 60.6 million Pakistanis voted in the country’s 12th general elections, held on February 8. This number was higher than 2018 elections, in which least 54.8 million citizens participated. The number this increased by 5.8 million voters, according to FAFEN post-election analysis report.

    The election watchdog reported that fewer people voted in the recent general polls compared to the total number of registered voters. In 2018, 52.1 percent of registered voters participated in the polls whereas this year, only 47.6 percent turned out to vote.

    The decrease in turnout, however, can be largely attributed to the increase in registered voters from 106 million in 2018 to 128.6 million in 2024. A considerable rise of 22.6 million registered voters between the 2018 and 2024 elections was highlighted in the report.

    The report suggested that the turnout might have been affected by several factors, including severe winter in some areas, concerns about violence and terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, and uncertainty regarding how the elections would be conducted.

    The analysis report on voter turnout reveals that KP had the lowest turnout. The report also notes that voter turnout varies across National Assembly (NA) constituencies, with Islamabad Capital Territory recording the highest turnout.

  • Will PTI secure reserved seats in National Assembly?

    Will PTI secure reserved seats in National Assembly?

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has confirmed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not get reserve seats despite an alliance with other political parties, including Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), ARY News reported on Wednesday.

    ECP sources revealed that the MWM did not submit a list of reserved seats for women as required by Section 104 of the Election Act, and they missed the submission deadline.

    Furthermore, it was revealed that political parties are allowed to submit the list of reserved seats until the deadline for the submission of nomination papers. 

    However, once the deadline passes, no political party can submit a list of reserved seats.

    A day earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced plans to form an alliance with MWM to create a government in the centre.

  • ‘Nawaz will oversee PML-N-led governments’: Maryam Nawaz

    ‘Nawaz will oversee PML-N-led governments’: Maryam Nawaz

    Maryam Nawaz, the Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), has dismissed speculations suggesting that party head Nawaz Sharif has withdrawn from active politics following his nomination of younger brother Shehbaz Sharif for the prime ministerial post.

    Maryam Nawaz has been nominated as the party’s candidate for Chief Minister of Punjab.

    In a statement shared on X (former Twitter), Maryam emphasized that Nawaz Sharif is poised to remain actively engaged in politics for the next five years. She declared that Nawaz Sharif will not only participate in political affairs but will also oversee the PML-N-led administrations in both Punjab and at the federal level.

    Addressing concerns over Nawaz Sharif’s future role, Maryam pointed out that her party has secured clear mandates in the three previous governments under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership.

    She highlighted Nawaz’s explicit stance during election speeches, affirming his intention to refrain from joining any coalition government.
    “… he has made it clear in his election speeches that he will not be a part of any coalition government.”
    She added that those who are aware of Nawaz’s nature know his principled stance.
    “Shehbaz Sharif and I are his soldiers, bound by his orders and will work under his leadership and supervision. May Allah grant us success. Ameen,” Maryam said.
    Maryam Nawaz’s statement comes amid widespread speculation regarding Nawaz Sharif’s political future, with many expressing disappointment over his decision to step back from the prime ministerial race in favor of Shehbaz Sharif.

    Former spokesperson for Nawaz Sharif, Mohammad Zubair, expressed his disappointment saying: “He was the one who inspired me to join politics. Whatever name I made in politics & positions earned were all due to his confidence. Sad to see him go like this. The votes N got were all due to him but the party did not do justice to him. Was this his last political battle?”

  • Zardari might be our next president; Bilawal wants Murad as CM Sindh

    Zardari might be our next president; Bilawal wants Murad as CM Sindh

    In a recent development reported by Geo News, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chief of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has expressed his preference for Murad Ali Shah to serve as the Chief Minister of Sindh for the third consecutive term.

    Sources revealed that alongside Shah, other names under consideration for the Sindh CM post include Faryal Talpur, Nasir Hussain Shah, and Sharjeel Memon.

    It’s noted that some leaders within the PPP advocate for Faryal Talpur to potentially become Sindh’s first woman chief minister, adding an intriguing dynamic to the selection process.

    Furthermore, amidst political alliances forming in the country, a six-party coalition consisting of PML-N, PPP, MQMP, PML-Q, IPP, and BAP has been announced.

    This alliance, reminiscent of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), aims to form the next government at the federal level.

    Notably, Asif Ali Zardari, the former president, is expected to lead the country for the second time, pending the coalition’s success.

    Bilawal Bhutto Zardari affirmed PPP’s support for PML-N in electing its prime minister, though without direct involvement in the federal government.

    However, discussions surrounding key constitutional posts, including the National Assembly speaker, Senate chairman, and president, have ensued. Bilawal expressed his desire for Asif Ali Zardari to assume the presidency, citing the need for experienced leadership in addressing the country’s challenges.

    In addition to the presidency, PPP is reportedly eyeing the post of Balochistan chief minister, with Sarfraz Bugti briefing the party on the province’s political landscape.

    Sources suggest that PML-N leadership has agreed to support Zardari for the presidency in exchange for PPP’s backing of Shehbaz Sharif for the prime minister’s post, potentially shaping the future political landscape with a PML-N prime minister and a PPP president.

    Meanwhile, PML-N senior leader Rana Sanaullah said PPP did not not demand the top constitutional post of president.
    In a statement, Sanaullah said that Shehbaz had experience of working with allies, while Asif Ali Zardari has the political acumen to take prudent decisions.

    He said that neither the PPP demanded the position of the president nor did they make any commitment. “We hope that [JUI-F chief] Fazlur Rehman will become part of the government,” he added.

  • ‘PTI can talk to all parties to solve country’s problems’; Ali Muhammad Khan offers olive branch

    ‘PTI can talk to all parties to solve country’s problems’; Ali Muhammad Khan offers olive branch

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-supported independent candidates are currently leading in numbers after the recent general elections. However, the party’s leadership seems unsure about their stance on discussions with other political parties in the context of forming a government in Islamabad.

    A day earlier, former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his party will not talk to mainstream parties, including, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

    On the other hand, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan said in an interview with Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ that PTI can talk with all political parties to solve the country’s problems, offering an olive branch as opposed to his party’s hard-line stance.

    “We have no personal fight with these parties,” Ali said pointedly, adding that PTI is ready to sit with other political stakeholders, as soon as “tomorrow morning”.

  • PPP likely to join federal government

    PPP likely to join federal government

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is likely to join the federal cabinet despite publically stating on Tuesday that the party will only support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for prime minister, Geo has reported on Wednesday.

    A day earlier, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto said that his party will only support PML-N in government formation and will not take ministries.

    In a press conference following the two-day Central Executive Committee meeting of the PPP, Bilawal stated that the party is open to offering support on specific issues and crucial votes for the Prime Minister candidate of Pakistan, aiming to facilitate government formation and restore political stability.

    “The PPP has decided that while we are not in a position to join the federal government ourselves, nor will we be interested in taking ministries in such a set-up, we also do not want to see political chaos in the country. We do not want to see perpetual crisis in the country,” he said.

    Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of PPP, announced in a press conference later the same night, the formation of a six-party alliance for the next coalition government. He stated that they had decided to form the government together.

  • PTI decides to form government with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen in centre and Punjab

    PTI decides to form government with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen in centre and Punjab

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Rauf Hassan has said that his party will form a government with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) in the centre and Punjab. He also said that PTI will form the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

    MWM has one National Assembly (NA) seat, and JI has seven provincial assembly seats in KP. On the other hand, MWM has no provincial assembly seat in Punjab.

  • Why Ali Amin Gandapur should NOT be Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister

    Why Ali Amin Gandapur should NOT be Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister

    Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and founding Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur as the party’s candidate for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister post.

    But his nomination has sparked outcry on social media in the light of the atrocious allegations against him.

    In 2017, eight men stripped and paraded a teenage girl in Garahmat village of Daraban tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan.

    The incident took place on October 27 when a 16-year-old girl was stopped by men as she was on her way home. They then stripped her naked and forced her to walk in the village for an hour.

    The girl screamed for help but was ignored by witnesses who were “scared” to help her.

    She was allegedly ‘punished’ for her brother’s actions who, three years prior, had allegedly entered into a relationship with a girl from the village.

    PTI MNA Dawar Khan Kundi wrote a letter to Imran Khan, pointing out Gandapur’s — the-then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Minister — involvement in enabling the incident.

    “I visited the family a week before and they asked, in fact, requested me to make sure that Ali Amin Gandapur, revenue minister KP, may be forced and asked to withdraw his support for the criminals,” Kundi wrote in the letter, dated November 8.

    Gandapur denied the allegations and visited the girl’s family, ensuring them that he will arrange her marriage and take any financial responsibility needed.

    On the contrary, the girl revealed that during her statement admission to the police, she was “threatened” which hindered her in giving all the details.

    “When I started recording my statement, the police officer didn’t write it correctly. Instead, he wrote only what he wanted to”, Geo news quoted her as saying.

    While on one hand Imran Khan posted on X (formerly Twitter) with regard to FIR filed against the perpetrators and the arrests, he, nonetheless, deemed the allegations against Gandapur as false and instead announced that he would expel Kundi from the party.

    Apart from his involvement in the case, he also has a reputation for foul language. To quote an example, in one of his addresses to the public, in reply to one of Maryam Nawaz’s comments, “Jaisa moun waisay thapar”, he said that she shall get “slapped” for the insights he has on her.

  • Ali Amin Gandapur will be Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister

    Ali Amin Gandapur will be Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister

    The founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has told media that senior leader of his party and member of the provincial assembly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Ali Amin Gandapur, will be the chief minister of the province.

    According to the results of general elections, PTI-backed candidates have a simple majority in the KP province.
    Imran Khan also said that his party is ready to talk with all parties except the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

  • Biden calls Netanyahu as*hole but does not change stance on Gaza: US media

    Biden calls Netanyahu as*hole but does not change stance on Gaza: US media

    According to a NBC News report, US President Joe Biden has been expressing his frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in private conversations. Citing five sources familiar with the matter, NBC News revealed that Biden is seeking to persuade Israel to change its military tactics in Gaza, but Netanyahu is perceived as “an obstacle” in this process.

    The sources stated that Biden has used strong language to convey his frustration, reportedly describing Netanyahu actions as “giving him hell” and expressing a sentiment that “this has to stop.”

    There have been instances where Biden has reportedly referred to Netanyahu with derogatory terms, including “bad fking guy” and “ahole,” according to sources cited by POLITICO and NBC News.

    When questioned about Biden’s remarks, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said, “The president has been clear where he disagrees with Prime Minister Netanyahu, but this is a decades-long relationship that is respectful in public and in private.”

    Despite the outward display of mutual respect, Biden’s private frustrations highlight a stark contrast to the public perception of the relationship between the two leaders.

    Behind closed doors, Biden’s comments suggest a growing impatience with Netanyahu’s handling of Israel’s assault on Gaza, with the president reportedly viewing him as a significant obstacle to achieving desired outcomes.

    A source told NBC about Biden’s view on the Gaza campaign: “He just feels like this is enough. It has to stop.”

    More than 28,000 people are reported to have died since the war broke out on October 7. Israel is planning a ground assault on Rafah city in the south of Gaza – where more than one million displaced Palestinians are. Despite the US’s public opposition to the operation, Netanyahu is said to be pressing ahead with it.

    The reported tensions come amidst ongoing efforts to address the situation in Gaza and calls for a ceasefire. Biden’s private sentiments underscore the complexities and challenges faced in navigating the relationship between the United States and Israel, particularly concerning matters of regional security and diplomacy.