Live: Elections 2024

THE people of Pakistan waited long enough for this election, part of which should have happened early last year — in KP and Punjab — and part of it late last year.

But even when the election date was announced, circumstances remained extraordinary. No stone was left unturned to discourage the voters. One party was consistently targeted, its top tier ruthlessly purged and the ones who finally made it to the election line not allowed to campaign. Most of the campaign time was spent underground, evading arrests and even watching their livelihoods destroyed.

If this was on the ground, in Islamabad, the mainstream media ran the most (in)effective disinformation campaign ever: the PTI would boycott the election; the party had disintegrated after May 9 and it had also lost support; it had no electables left; these nobodies and the lawyers who finally got the ticket had no idea how elections worked; they wouldn’t even have enough polling agents for the day.

But as usual, the politicians, the courts, the string pullers and the media underestimated the people, who have many a time waited to get their right to choose — they waited 11 years to vote for the PPP in 1988; eight for the PML-N in 2008, when they brought it to power in Punjab; and a year this time around.

Read the full op-ed here.

Follo­wing days of severe criticism over the delay in the announcement of poll results, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has defended itself, saying a litany of security and logistical challenges impeded the process.

In a detailed statement on Monday, the commission said saving human lives and ensuring accuracy was more important than the swift announcement of election results.

Issues such as peaceful polling, security of polling staff, transportation of polling material and accurate compilation of election results were prioritised by the ECP to ensure peaceful elections despite security challenges.

The statement noted that the suspension of mobile networks, lack of communication access, polling stations in far-flung areas, travel at night, harsh weather and snow, and sit-ins by political parties caused difficulties in the transportation of election results.

Read more here.

PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan has said that “going against the will of the people” never does the country good.

In a post on X, he said that declaring someone other than whom the public has voted for as the winner amounted to ridiculing the people.

“The public should be given back their mandate,” he added.

US Congressman Dan Kildee has called for “any violence, undue restrictions on voting, or alleged vote tampering” during Pakistan’s general elections to be fully investigated.

In a post on X, he said, “Millions of Pakistanis showed up at the polls to make their voices heard.”

Kildee condemned “any attempt to undermine Pakistan’s democratic process or suppress the will of the people”.

US Congressman Steven Horsford has urged the State Department to refrain from recognising a winner of Pakistan’s general elections “until transparent investigations into fraud claims are complete”.

In a post on X, he voiced concerns over “freedoms and electoral integrity” of the general elections held in Pakistan, urging all parties to uphold democracy.

“Pakistan’s democracy deserves respect for its electoral process,” Horsford added.

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah has said that ex-premier and party president Shehbaz Sharif will address an “important news conference” at 12pm in Lahore today.

The Central Executive Committee of the PPP which met in Islamabad to deliberate on the post-poll scenario and proposals regarding the coalition government has decided to reach out to all political parties, including the PTI-backed independents, for a possible power-sharing deal.

Addressing a press conference after the CEC meeting on Monday night, Senator Sherry Rehman said, “The PPP will approach all [political] parties, and a committee will be set up in this regard.”

The committee will be formed today (Tuesday), while the CEC meeting which ended without reaching any final decision will also resume today at 3pm.

Read more here.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman has said that the party has decided to constitute a committee to initiate contacts with other political parties as per the instructions of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, she said the PPP’s Central Executive Committee meeting would continue on Tuesday and no final decision was taken as of yet.

Lahore High Court Justice Ali Baqar Najafi has turned down 18 petitions challenging the results of constituencies after the general elections on the basis of Form 47s.

The petitions included those against the electoral wins of PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shehbaz, Khawaja Asif, Attaullah Tarar and IPP leader Awn Chaudhry.

The judge directed the petitioners to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding the matter.

The Fair and Free Election Network (Fafen) has called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to address non-compliance by Returning Officers (ROs) with legal provisions for transparent election result processes.

In a statement today, Fafen said despite generally smooth voting and counting processes, ROs in 135 constituencies did not follow regulations, hindering transparency efforts.

“This included restricting Fafen observers from monitoring tabulation proceedings in 65 constituencies and opening tamper-evident bags without candidate or agent presence in 42 constituencies,” it said.

“Furthermore, ROs in 53 constituencies failed to ensure proper correction of arithmetic errors in Form-45, as required by Election Rules, 2017.”

The statement added that inadequate arrangements at tabulation centres, leading to chaotic environments, were observed in 66 constituencies whereas the logistical challenge of meeting the 2am deadline for delivering results compounded the issue, particularly in geographically large constituencies.

“Only four constituencies managed to prepare complete provisional results by the legally stipulated time of 2am,” it said.

“While acknowledging the need for potential reforms to the Elections Act, 2017, considering operational realities, Fafen emphasises the ECP’s responsibility to investigate non-compliance by ROs.”

Fafen highlighted that Section 55 of the Elections Act, 2017 grants the ECP authority to take action against election officials and public servants for such breaches.

Former PTI MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Adnan has been gunned down by unidentified assailants in Rawalpindi, according to the police.

Adnan had contested the general elections from Rawalpindi’s NA-57 and PP-19 constituencies.

A statement from the Rawalpindi police spokesperson said the incident occurred in the Civil Lines area in front of the city police officer’s (CPO) office.

The police spokesperson said Rawalpindi CPO Syed Khalid Hamdani has directed the Potohar superintendent of police to arrest the culprits involved in the incident immediately.

Read more here.

The PPP’s Central Executive Committee meeting was held in Islamabad under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, a party statement said.

The participants of the meeting expressed their confidence in the leadership of the party and discussed a myriad of topics including the general elections and the way forward.

The PTI has established special committees to strategise on government formation in the Centre, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A statement issued after the party’s core committee meeting said the participants agreed to the early completion of the nomination process for important government and parliamentary positions as per the recommendations and strategies proposed by the committees.

Ziaullah Bangash, a former MPA and advisor to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, has refuted media reports regarding Pervez Khattak’s resignation from PTI-Parliamentarians.

“I have talked to Pervez Khattak and he has regarded any such news as rumours,” Bangash told Dawn.com.

Earlier, several television channels reported that Khattak had decided to resign from the party and quit politics.

A PTI delegation comprising central information secretary Raoof Hasan and lawyer Umair Niazi has briefed President Dr Arif Alvi about alleged rigging during the general elections.

A statement from the presidency said that the delegation briefed Alvi on the party’s electoral successes despite its alleged suppression.

PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz held a meeting with independents who recently joined the Nawaz Sharif-led party and congratulated them on the decision.

“Your decision will be the solution to the problems of the people of Pakistan,” she told them, a PML-N statement on X said.

The ECP has said the suspension of mobile services on February 8 created some hindrances in the sending of electronic data by presiding officers.

The caretaker government had suspended cellular services on poll day owing to security concerns. It later stated that the decision was not easy but was taken to prevent any security mishaps.

In a statement today, ECP said the move had severely affected coordination and transport of election material.

The electoral watchdog highlighted that the first result of the 2024 election was received at 2am compared to the 2018 election result which was received at 4am.

“Except for some constituencies, the results of the elections were completed within one and a half days,” the statement said. “The delay in results in some constituencies did not benefit or harm any specific political party,” the ECP concluded.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has refuted allegations pertaining to rigging during the February 8 general elections.

In a press release, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the electoral watchdog said it does not deny the occurrence of a few irregularities and that relevant forms were available for investigation.

“Immediate decisions are being taken on complaints filed,” the statement added. “Despite difficulties and issues, the electoral process was peacefully organised.”

The ECP said conducting the elections smoothly was a “major operation” which was completed successfully.

Istehkam-i-Pakistan leader Aleem Khan has said he is “deeply saddened” by party chief Jahangir Tareen’s decision to resign and quit politics altogether.

In a shocking development, Istehkam-i-Pakistan chief Jahangir Tareen announced his decision to quit politics altogether while Sirajul Haq resigned as the emir of Jamaat-i-Islami.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported me in this election and want to offer my congratulations to my opponents,” said Tareen in a post on X.

“I have immense respect for the will of the people of Pakistan,” he said, offering his gratitude to all IPP members,“ he stated, adding that he would serve the country in a “private capacity”.

Meanwhile, Siraj said he has “accepted the responsibility for defeat” in the February 8 general elections.

Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir has said that more than 30 petitions have been filed in the Sindh High Court (SHC) by his panel “Safeguard Karachi’s Vote” against the “malicious tabulation” of electoral results.

Speaking to the media in Karachi, Nasir said 17 PTI-backed candidates were being supported by the panel, adding that all candidates had similar pleas of malicious tabulation by returning officers misrepresenting the total count of Form 45 in Form 47.

In a post on X, Nasir said the SHC had given the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) till 11am tomorrow to come up with a “lawful and reasonable solution” to the issue.

He said the SHC has cautioned the ECP to not insist on any “flawed results” and to notify the returned candidates as soon as possible otherwise the court would be forced to intervene.

In another shock development, Sirajul Haq has announced his resignation as the chief of Jamaat-i-Islami.

In a post on X, he said he has “accepted the responsibility of defeat” in the February 8 general elections.

Iftikharullah Jan, an independent candidate who won the PK-64 seat from Charsadda, has decided to join the PTI, the party said in a social media post.

Hitting back at allegations of the caretaker government failing to provide a level playing field in the elections, interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar questioned what more was wanted after PTI loyalists were allowed to contest the polls.

“How come you have the largest group in the National Assembly that is being supported by the PTI. They are the single largest group and still, we are being accused that we managed the rigging.”

Kakar said the government maintained that loyalists of Imran Khan were allowed to contest the elections and “that is exactly what happened but there is no appreciation”.

Patron-in-chief of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party Jahangir Khan Tareen has resigned from the position as party chairman and decided to step away from politics altogether.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported me in this election and want to offer my congratulations to my opponents,” said Tareen in a post on X.

“I have immense respect for the will of the people of Pakistan,” he said, offering his gratitude to all IPP members.

“I wish them the absolute best,” he said.

“I will continue to serve my country to the best of my ability in a private capacity. May the next few years see Pakistan prosper,” he added.

Caretaker Anwaarul Haq Kakar has brushed off criticism from US lawmakers regarding the general elections and said that it is “not that big a deal”.

He said Pakistan had a huge diaspora in the United States, some of whom had “quite an active role in domestic politics and have their own inclinations towards domestic politics here so at times it is quite easy for you to settle there, participate in local fundraising and you’ll be able to influence one, two or a few members of US Congress”.

Kakar said US Congress members did not “represent the gospel truth” and were not the “pedestal of do [and] does [not]”.

He said there were other important issues for them to comment on.

PM Kakar has said the caretaker government continues to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“We are communicating with them and by the way the caretaker government has very good relations with the IMF. They are appreciative that we achieved our tax targets and the rest,” he said at a press conference in Islamabad.

Regarding a new deal with the IMF, the premier said the new government would take the lead on that.

PM Kakar has said he believes the February 8 general elections were held in a “free and fair manner”.

“We did not have any institutional mechanism either in fear or favour of an entity, political group or individual,” he said, adding the same was the stated policy of the caretaker government.

Regarding complaints of irregularities in the electoral process, the premier said a procedure pertaining to this had been provided by Parliament. “But I agree that the future Parliament should focus more on the electoral process, the system of balloting and rest of the issues affiliated with it.

“I personally feel we should have a more robust and financially independent election commission,” PM Kakar added.

Caretaker PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar has said that dialogue and legislation were needed to make the electoral process acceptable to prevent allegations regarding “interference by institutions” and manipulation by political parties.

“You have the floor of the Parliament. This cannot be decided in a talk show but can turn into a talk show […] the real place for this discussion is in Parliament and it has representation across the political spectrum.

“These [parties] need to sit together. This is a matter of the representation of Pakistan’s political class,” he said.

PM Kakar added that he was a strong advocate of legislation to “settle” Pakistan’s democratic process.

PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that her party has not finalised a candidate for premiership thus far, adding that communication with “coalition partners” was ongoing and it will be decided with their consultation.

Speaking to Geo News, Aurangzeb said a video message released by party leader Khawaja Asif was his personal opinion and did not reflect the views of the party.

Although she did not specifically mention which video message she was referring to, Asif had told Samaa TV that Nawaz Sharif would not be PML-N’s prime ministerial candidate and instead his brother Shehbaz was the party’s choice/.

“Even he said at the end of his video that talks with coalition partners are still under way,” Aurangzeb said. She also denied rumours regarding a supposed power-sharing formula, saying an agreement had been made in principle to move forward together.

Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has lamented the premature announcement of election results by media houses, saying that there was a projection of “unverified figures” in the process.

“Does anyone know how long did it take to count the votes in the General Elections 2024?” he asked. “We compiled the results in 36 hours. In 2018, it took 66 hours [to count the votes].”

“These things happen in real time and one needs to be reasonable […] we need to follow the set procedures and that is what is democracy,” the premier said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said peaceful protests are a party of democracy. “But no government can allow protests that lead the country towards anarchy,” he highlighted.

PML-N leader Atta Tarar has said his party’s candidate for the prime minister will be announced after “complete consensus” with allies.

“We are in a position where we can form a government in Punjab and we have attained simple majority,” he said at a press conference. “Regarding the Centre, deliberations are under way with PPP and MQM-P.”

Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the provincial police has “solid evidence” regarding plans to create another “May 9-like situation”.

“In this regard, if anyone even tries to do something like that, the reaction will be way more than that of May 9,” he warned. “We don’t want any such incidents to take place again […] we don’t want further division.”

Naqvi added that intelligence agencies had “caught telephonic conversations” regarding such plans.

It must be recalled that on May 9 — after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan — from the Islamabad High Court, PTI workers held protests across the country. The protest, however, turned into riots with some mobs found attacking military installations. What followed was an intense crackdown on the PTI, which resulted in the party’s major leadership either exiting the PTI or going into hiding.

In response to Naqvi’s statement today, the PTI alleged that a “false-flag operation” was being planned against the party.

PTI leader Taimur Khan Jhagra has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of Pakistan against the district returning officer, returning officer and deputy commissioner of Peshawar for “tampering with papers” and “manipulating election results”.

Jhagra said he remained a “validly nominated candidate” for the PP-79 (Peshawar) seat as an independent candidate. His electoral symbol was ‘traffic light’.

In a post on X, he shared a copy of his complaint and wrote: “A grade 17 or grade 18 civil servant cannot simply fictitiously manufacture a public mandate.”

The complaint stated that PML-N candidate Jalal Khan indulged in firing at a polling station to “intimidate voters” but no action was taken. It added that after the polling, the Forms-45 were handed over to polling agents and they reflected Jhagra’s “landslide victory”.

However, he alleged, the results were “falsely changed”.

Former premier Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated the five independents, who recently switched loyalties, for joining the PML-N.

Sardar Shamshir Mazari from NA-189, Imran Akram from PP-195, Sohail Khan from PP-240, Khizr Hussain Mazari from PP-297 and Sahibzada Mohammad Gazin Abbasi from PP-249 were among those who attended the meeting.

According to a statement posted by the PML-N, all the newly inducted members expressed confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.

PTI-backed candidate Rehana Dar says the Election Commission of Pakistan has stopped the returning officer from issuing the results of the NA-71 constituency in Punjab’s Sialkot.

Rehana alleges that her opponent, PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, won the seat through rigging.

In a post on X, she says the ECP summoned the RO with election results and all the records on Feb 14. “Khawaja Asif’s fake victory is soon going to turn into a defeat,” Rehana adds.

Advocate Salman Akram Raja, who contested the Feb 8 polls with the support of the PTI, said that he feels “sorry that the people’s mandate has been changed”.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he alleged that rigging took place in the returning officer’s (RO) office where the police was complicit in changing the results.

“Rigging can only end when the state decides that rigging has to end. What we can see is that state people were involved in rigging,” he said.

“The people should decide and their vote should be respected,” he said. He expressed dismay at the fact that those who used to talk about respecting the vote had abandoned the slogan.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam—Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Kamran Murtaza has called the Senate’s attention towards the “situation arising from recently held elections in the country”.

In a calling attention notice submitted to the Senate, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, he raised the following concerns:

1. How did the election commission (ECP), the caretaker government and other institutions conduct the elections in the country?
2. Were the election results according to the public’s expectations?
3. How many political parties accepted the election results?
4. What situation has arisen in the country after the release of the poll results?

Senator Murtaza asserted that a debate should be held in the upper house so that “no political or economic crisis arises in the coming days”, and that a solution could be found.