Senior Journalist Gharidah Farooqi wrote in her post on X (previously Twitter) that mobile signals are restored in Karachi but are still suspended in Lahore.
It’s election night in Pakistan, but mobile signals have been suspended in Lahore for almost 20 hours. According to the election results so far, independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are leading.
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:
Latest picture of PMLN leadership.. They are not looking too hopeful.. Independents are leading by big number but unconfirmed results are only around 10 percent or less so far.. will the same trend continue is yet to be seen pic.twitter.com/nk7HQRckdt
— Shahzad Iqbal (@ShahzadIqbalGEO) February 8, 2024
NA139 Pakpattan
PTI with a good lead here…Should win this..
PTI 24045
PMLN 16362#GeneralElectionN0W #MassiveTurnout#VoteForImranKhan #Election2024 #ووٹ_ڈالو_خان_نکالو pic.twitter.com/pmSDVfoaY1— Ahsan Abbasi (@MAhsanAbbasi10) February 8, 2024
My first vote today.#VoteForImranKhan https://t.co/td98jyGJ8Q
— Syed Musab Pirzada (@S_M_Pirzada) February 8, 2024
There are two choices for them. Rig the shit out of this election. Or play the long game of threatening and forcing the PTI independents after the results and try to technically KO PTI. Either way, they have been thoroughly cornered.
— Rizwan NA-31 PK-79 (@Rizwow) February 8, 2024
The fact that results from most seats show PTI independents in the lead or some PMLN/PPP leaders winning only by a thin margin, despite the symbol issue, leader in jail, the crackdown & abductions, shows the people have already won. Regardless of the final outcome.
What a fight!
— Alif (@vanillasky458) February 8, 2024
WHOAH! Independents i.e. PTI in lead despite massive pre poll rigging in Pakistan. Now post poll rigging going on with reports of media being blocked from reporting results & returning officers disappearing from the scene. Seems like pindiboys are going to fine-tune final count. pic.twitter.com/umOJ2t2FPY
— Taha Siddiqui (@TahaSSiddiqui) February 8, 2024
Results are delayed ‘becauee’ independents are leading on 100+ so far! https://t.co/A0DdcAtbd8
— Sikander F. Bhadera (@SikanderFayyaz) February 8, 2024
This youth won’t let anyone waste their vote InshaAllah #وزیراعظم_عمران_خان#massiveturnout#ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/CDGAzace2Z
— H A S S A A N (@hass_memon) February 8, 2024
Then N-League will not be in opposition… PPP will be instead.#GeneralElectionN0W #Elections2024 #VoteForImranKhan #VoteForPakistan https://t.co/sR9eJMXv6v
— Syed Musab Pirzada (@S_M_Pirzada) February 8, 2024
Plmn right know#MassiveTurnout pic.twitter.com/Y2tEVtN1yE
— ALI NAQI (@Alinaqi_aka) February 8, 2024
Now I am feelings 1
Now feelings of PLMN 2#Elections2024
#GeneralElectionN0W#ImranKhanPTI #Election2024pakistan #PakistanElections #PTIofficial #PTICandidates pic.twitter.com/33gpdbo7q9— JacquelCamille (@Jacqueeeeeel) February 8, 2024
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).
There is a reason why @junaidmuhammadd is so good in Marathons, whether it’s running or marathon transmissions(almost three hours non-stop announcing results) Amazing performance. Jeetay Raho!! pic.twitter.com/CBmFMNTUch
— Azhar Abbas (@AzharAbbas3) February 8, 2024
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.”
230 minutes and counting.. no break, no mistake, no fumble and only he knows how he manages to breathe in between. What a star. @junaidmuhammadd https://t.co/hY7cNQZIcv
— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) February 8, 2024
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.”
Our marathon runner news anchor @junaidmuhammadd created a record by speaking non-stop on @geonews_urdu since last three hours without any fumble. He is announcing results of #Election2024 with full speed and energy. Great athlete you are the winner pic.twitter.com/yROTC0asu8
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) February 8, 2024
Investigative Journalist Fakhar Durrani also posted an appreciation note stating “hats off to you.”
جیو نیوز کو محمد جنید کو تھوڑی دیر ریسٹ دے کر کسی اور کو نتائج اناونس کروانا چاہیے۔ کمال میراتھون اناونس منٹ کررہے ہیں۔ hats off to you @junaidmuhammadd بھائی۔
— Fakhar Durrani (@FrehmanD) February 8, 2024
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”.
Taliban have taken over polling stations in Tappi, N. Waziristan in my constituency NA-40. 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. pic.twitter.com/4chQUNivB6
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) February 8, 2024
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.
Women being barred to vote from NA-40 Miranshah, North Waziristan, an unidentified man picks away an entire ballot box. After the government has stepped in the voting has begun again but women are not being allowed to vote. pic.twitter.com/IclAdQdtju
— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) February 8, 2024
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wants the mobile service across the country to be restored. The former foreign minister wrote a post on X (previously Twitter) saying, “Mobile phone services must be restored immediately across the country. I have asked my party to approach both ECP and the courts for this purpose.”
Other politicians are also agreeing with BBZ, including Independent candidate and former PPP minister, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.
The federal Ministry of Interior has confirmed on Thursday morning that internet services on mobile data across the country have been suspended after a dramatic surge of terror attacks just a day before the country goes to polls.
“Recent surge in terrorist activities resulting in precious lives have stirred security environment in the country. In the light of deteriorating security situation and to mitigate potential security threats, need has risen to take by measures to safeguard against it. Therefore, it has been decided to temporarily suspend the mobile services across the country,” a statement issued by the ministry said.
However, WiFi services have not been suspended and remain operational.
The news has been met by dismay on social media as users say it hinders the voting process and blocks candidates from communicating with their polling staff.
On Wednesday, two attacks just a short while apart from each other, killed 27 people in Balochistan while more than 50 people were injured. A grenade attack in Karachi got foiled when the ammo detonated in the hands of the motorcyclist carrying it, while JUI-F’s Hafiz Hamdullah was attacked by gunfire in an assassination attempt that failed.