Live: Elections 2024

The PTI has shared a video on X, showing Lahore police apprehending a man aboard a car, purportedly for waving the party flag.

According to the PTI, “police arrested a peaceful person travelling with his family for waving a PTI flag.”

The leader of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has vowed a comeback after its vote share evaporated in Feb 8 general elections, AFP reports.

Saad Hussain Rizvi’s TLP party rode the issue to emerge the largest Islamist force in 2018 polls, but its prominence was all but eroded in last week’s national and provincial elections.

Analysts say the death of Rizvi’s charismatic father Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who founded the party, and a loss of patronage from Pakistan’s powerful generals cost them dearly.

Speaking to supporters in Lahore on Saturday, Rizvi said the enemies of Islam had stopped his party.

“This rigging has taken place because we speak about rights, and we talk about a faith that those with power in this world do not accept,” he told AFP.

When asked if he could fill his father Khadim Rizvi’s shoes, he responded matter-of-factly. “Bringing people onto the streets, and bringing people out to vote was not a problem for TLP in the past and it is not a problem now.”

“Khadim Rizvi had the kind of leadership and charisma that his son does not have,” Arafat Mazhar, who works on blasphemy law reform, told AFP.

The JUI-F held a protest in Karachi against alleged “malpractices” during the elections, a party spokesperson said.

Speaking to Dawn.com, JUI-F spokesperson Sami Swati told Dawn.com that the party’s protesters blocked the Superhighway near Al Asif Square and Hub River Road at 8am.

The PPP has called its Central Executive Committee meeting at Zardari House in Islamabad tomorrow.

The meeting comes days after party chairman Asif Ali Zardari met PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the formation of a coalition government.

PTI has rejected the “shameful” attempts at creating “PDM 2” in the country by trampling on the intentions of the people, a statement released by the party said.

“The economic and administrative disaster that Pakistan is suffering today is the responsibility of PDM, an incompetent, worthless and rejected group of criminals.”

The statement said the PTI was the “largest and most popular party in the country” and it therefore had the basic constitutional, democratic, moral and political right to form a government.

“The chief election commissioner (CEC) and the Election Commission of Pakistan are the main facilitators in the open robbery of democracy,” it added. The PTI also demanded the immediate resignation of the CEC and members of the ECP.

The police have warned they would come down hard on illegal gatherings after the PTI urged supporters to protest alleged rigging in the election, AFP reports.

Authorities have warned they would take strict action, saying Section 144 orders were in place in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

AFP correspondents saw dozens of police equipped with riot gear assembling near Liberty Market in Lahore.

The MQM-P and PML-N, after an hour-long meeting earlier in the day, have reached a “principle agreement” to work together in the upcoming government, according to a statement released by the Nawaz Sharif-led party.

“We will work together in the interest of the country and public,” the statement said, adding that basic points had been agreed upon by the two parties.

The meeting was attended by MQM-P’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Dr Farooq Sattar, Kamran Tessori and Mustafa Kamal.

From the PML-N’s side, the Sharif brothers, Ishaq Dar, Maryam Nawaz, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafiq were in attendance among others.

PkMAP’s Mehmood Khan Achakzai has won the NA-266 seat from Balochistan with 67,028 seats, according to provisional results released by the ECP.

JUI-F’s Salahuddin is the runner-up with 58,439 votes.

Ahead of its nationwide protests against alleged rigging, the PTI has claimed that police have “hijacked” its demonstration sites.

“First they try to steal public mandate, and then they try to hijack peaceful protests!” PTI said in a post on X.

“IG Punjab, who has committed violations of human rights, is once again resorting to such tactics.”

BNP’s Akhtar Mengal has won the NA-261 seat from Balochistan with 27,311 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP.

The second in the lead is JUI-F’s Abdul Ghafoor Haideri with 25,688 votes.

JUI-F has clinched the NA-260 seat from Balochistan with 42,670 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP.

The runner-up is PML-N’s Fatah Muhammad.

The National Party’s candidate has won the NA-258 seat from Balochistan’s Panjgur and Kech with 22,261 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP.

The second in the race is BNP-A’s Noor Ahmed Adil.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has stopped the returning officer from releasing the provisional results for the NA-15 (Mansehra) constituency.

A four-member bench conducted the hearing for NA-15 after former premier Nawaz Sharif challenged the results.

“We have not received Form 45s of 125 polling stations of NA-15 Mansehra,” Nawaz’s lawyer contended before the electoral watchdog, adding that the presiding officer for the polling station was expelled by the polling agents.

Nawaz’s lawyer argued that Form 47 cannot be issued without Form 45 and the Form 47 submitted by the returning officer is not correct.

“The election was not transparent in this constituency,” he said, adding that it was the responsibility of the ECP to conduct transparent elections.

Pashtoonkhwa National Awami Party’s Khushal Khan Kakar has won the NA-251 seat from Balochistan with 45,712 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP.

The runner-up is JUI-F’s Syed Samiullah with 44,736 votes.

The MQM-P’s delegation has departed from Jati Umra after an hour-long meeting with the PML-N’s top leadership.

Led by convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and comprising Dr Farooq Sattar, Kamran Tessori and Mustafa Kamal, the MQM-P delegation arrived at the Sharifs’ residence a little after 11:30am. None of the parties, however, held a press conference following the meeting.

The interaction comes after PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif called on all the political parties, excluding the PTI, to work together as a coalition government.

A day earlier, PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb told a private news channel that former premier Shehbaz Sharif had held a meeting with PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari, but both would consult their parties regarding the formation of a coalition government.

PML-N spokesperson for Punjab Uzma Bukhari has said that her party is in a position to form a government without needing a coalition.

“God willing, under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, the path towards progress and development in Punjab will restart,” she said, adding that no other party in Punjab could match the PML-N’s victory.

She said it was “unjustified” for PTI-backed candidate Advocate Salman Akram Raja to have petitioned in the Lahore High Court against Awn Chaudhry of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party. She added that such matters should be taken to election tribunals instead.

Bukhari claimed that members of the PTI circulated fake messages of their victory on WhatsApp, as well as to the media, and later “cried about rigging because they had no other option”.

“PML-N is a responsible party, we don’t lie, we don’t believe propaganda,” she added.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has condemned the death of civilians and a policeman in a clash between two groups in Larkana.

In a statement, the ex-foreign minister demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits and extended sympathy to the grieving family.

Earlier, several media outlets reported that three people, including a cop, were killed in a clash between two political parties in Larkana.

PTI leader Gohar Ali Khan has urged supporters to participate in peaceful protests across the country against alleged rigging in polls.

In a message on X, he said the nation had reposed their confidence in Imran Khan’s message of “ghulami na manzoor [slavery unacceptable]” and came out in large numbers to vote on Feb 8.

“But instead of surrendering to the decision of the people, they are trying to steal the people’s mandate,” Gohar claimed, adding that the PTI founder Imran Khan wanted supporters to hold peaceful demonstrations today against the delay in poll results.

The Islamabad police have warned against protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan and other government buildings, warning that Section 144 was still imposed in the capital.

The PTI, JUI-F, and JI have announced countrywide protests today against alleged rigging in the elections.

Balochistan National Party’s Khalid Hussain Magsi has clinched the NA-254 seat from Balochistan with 79,304 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP.

The runner-up is JUI-F’s Nizamuddin Lehri from the JUI-F.

In a post on X, the JI announced that they will be holding protests 4pm onwards at eight different locations across Karachi.

PML-N’s Sadar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasir has emerged victorious on the NA-252 seat from Balochistan with 53,783 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP.

The runner-up is independent candidate Sardar Babar Khan Musakhel with 52,992 votes.

The delay in several poll results across Balochistan is a result of logistical issues, caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai said while speaking to the media in Quetta.

“When it’s freezing cold in some areas, it’s natural that results will be delayed because of logistical issues,” he said. “Even the election commission has said this.”

The chief election agent for Misbah Wajid, an independent candidate backed by the PTI, has said that his client won the elections from the PP-172 seat but attempts were being made to “alter the results”.

In a video statement on X, he said a request had been submitted by another candidate pertaining to a recount of votes.

However, he alleged that at 3:30am, guards stationed outside the Returning Officer’s (RO) office reported that unknown individuals had entered the building. He called this an “attempt to alter the results”, adding that none of them were allowed to enter the premises.

He urged the RO and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to address their concerns promptly and allow them to visit the location for transparency.

Separately, Hammad Azhar claimed that PML-N’s Rana Mashood had applied for a recount.

The MQM-P delegation, led by convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, has arrived at the Sharifs’ Jati Umra residence, Dawn.com’s Lahore correspondent reports.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar are also a part of the delegation.

The MQM-P delegation was welcomed by PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ayaz Safiq and former premier Shehbaz Sharif.

PML-N leader Khawaja Asif has thanked the people of Sialkot for voting for him and promised to work on solving the city’s issues.

It must be noted that, as per provisional results released by the Election Commission of Pakistan, Asif emerged victorious in the NA-71 seat against PTI-backed candidate Rehana Dar amid allegations of rigging.

Balochistan remained cut off from Sindh and Punjab on Saturday as different highways and roads were blocked due to protests against alleged election rigging by workers and supporters of various political parties.

The protests also disrupted trade with Iran and Afghanistan and train services between Quetta and Chaman.

In Quetta, traffic was affected as the local administration blocked roads leading to the district returning officer’s office, where political parties continued their sit-in against the alleged change in election results.

Meanwhile, senior political leaders like the National Party president, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch; PkMAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai; PPP Balochistan President Mir Changez Khan Jamali; JUI-F provincial emir Maulana Abdul Wasey; and PTI’s Salar Khan have rejected the results and announced protests, including wheel jam strikes and blocking highways linking Balochistan with other provinces.

Read full story here.

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb says the MQM-P delegation, led by convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, will visit the Sharifs at their Raiwind residence at 11:30am.

Earlier this week, former premier Nawaz Sharif had invited political parties, except for the PTI, to come together and form a coalition government, claiming that the PML-N had emerged as the “single-largest party” during the elections.

A day earlier, Aura­ngzeb told a private news channel that Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Zardari held initial consultations, but both would consult their parties regarding the formation of a coalition government.

In a social media post earlier in the day, she said the MQM-P delegation would meet Nawaz Sharif and other PML-N leaders.

On the other hand, the PTI, JI, JUI-F and other parties have announced countrywide protests today against alleged rigging in the election results.

Around 60 million voters went to the polls on February 8 to elect their representatives, according to a preliminary reports released by the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen).

It said that more than 1.1 million election officials performed election duties.

Additionally, more than 0.7 million police and military officials stood guard across the country and outside polling stations, ensuring peace and order on election day.

Fafen acknowledged the Election Commission of Pakistan for setting in place a hassle-free process of accreditation for observers, Radio Pakistan reports.

PTI leader Hammad Azhar has advised the civil servants to stay loyal to the Constitution and people of Pakistan by not becoming part of the post-poll rigging, warning them that the “delinquents” would be prosecuted against.

Hammad demanded that the Punjab police inspector general should resign immediately, alleging that under the IGP’s supervision, thousands of homes were ransacked, people killed in police custody, hundreds tortured and thousands of innocent people were jailed.

In a video message, Hammad, who is facing cases and is in hiding fearing arrest, said the people of Pakistan expect that the civil servants and police officers would neither involve themselves in rigging elections, nor facilitate it, as these were heinous crimes. “Don’t commit these heinous crimes,” he warned.

The PTI leader lauded the returning officers and district police heads “who took a stand and refused to become part of rigging”. He said such ROs and DPOs were ensuring that mandate of people of Pakistan was upheld.

Former federal minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and 10 others have been booked for interfering in polling process and slapping a policeman who was performing security duty at a polling station in Sialkot on Feb 8.

As per the first information report (FIR), registered on the complaint of Amjad Ali, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Sialkot Sadar police station, the complainant was performing election duty at the Government Boys High School Gana Kalan polling station on Feb 8.

It said that former federal minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, who was a candidate of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) from National Assembly Constituency NA-70, arrived at the polling station, with her supporters, and allegedly started interfering in the polling process illegally.

The complainant said when he asked the IPP leader to not to interfere in the polling process, she slapped him on his face and used abusive language against him.

The PTI has said the release of political prisoners and acceptance of its mandate to rule was the only “healing touch” that the establishment could offer post elections, Barrister Gohar Khan has said.

His remarks came after Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir stated that the nation needs “stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation”.

In an interview with Arab News, Barrister Gohar said: “Healing touch would mean that you [army] got to make sure that there are no political prisoners anymore in Pakistan.

“[PTI] mandate has to be respected. Short of it there can be no healing touch.”

“United government means that every party should be united in one thing, which is that you have to respect and regard people’s mandate first,” Gohar said. “The people have spoken [through the vote] and for the first time they have spoken in a very tough situation [amid a crackdown against PTI].”

As it managed to retain almost all national seats from Rawalpindi and Murree, the PML-N also clinched nine out of 14 Punjab Assembly seats from these districts, effectively cementing the party’s hold on its bastion of the garrison city. The rest of the five seats went to PTI-backed independent candidates and a Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen nominee.

In 2018, there were 15 seats in Rawalpindi while in 2024 general elections, the number of seats was reduced to 13 for Rawalpindi and one for Murree — a newly created district — after the new delimitation exercise.

In complete contrast to these election results, the PTI had bagged 14 seats out of 15 in the 2018 polls, whereas one seat went to then-disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

According to the unofficial results issued by ECP, PML-N candidates Muhammad Bilal Yamin won PP-6 (Rawalpindi I) in Murree, Shaukat Raja won PP-9 (Rawalpindi-III) in Gujar Khan, Naeem Ejaz won PP-10 (Rawalpindi IV), Imran Ilyas Ch bagged PP-11 (Rawalpindi V) in Taxila, Mohsin Ayub Khan clinched PP-12 (Rawalpindi VI) in Taxila, Malik Iftikhar Ahmad won PP-14 (Rawalpindi VIII), Malik Mansoor Afsar bagged PP-15 (Rawalpindi IX), Ziaullah Shah won PP-16, (Rawalpindi X), and Abdul Latif won PP-17.

Read more here.

PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan has alleged that Form 47s of 18 National Assembly seats have been “falsely changed” by returning officers.

“These seats have been won by PTI. The mandate given by the people of Karachi to PTI is being stolen by these corrupt, spineless bureaucrats,” he said.

Aleema Khan, sister of former prime minister Imran Khan, has said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s premature declaration of victory in polls is an “insult to Pakistanis”.

She believes independents have a two-thirds majority and the right to govern.

In an interview with Sky News, Aleema said her brother inspired a revolution in Pakistan from behind bars on Feb 8. “He [Imran] sent out a very clear instruction that you have to go out, protest outside the returning offices and recover your seats. The ones that have been stolen,” she said.

“It wasn’t Imran Khan’s vote that they took away.

“They took away the right of 15 million people to recognise the symbol. That bat was a symbol that 15 million people who are illiterate recognise their candidate with,” Aleema added.

Courts have been flooded with legal challenges as candidates challenged the provisional results in their constituencies in a bid to turn the tide.

A vast majority of those filing such challenges were PTI-backed independents, including high-profile politicians such as Parvez Elahi and his wife Qaisera, former KP finance minister Taimoor Jhagra and ex-KP speaker Mahmood Jan, Islamabad-based lawyer Shuaib Shaheen, former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, as well as Usman Dar’s mother Rehana Dar.

In Lahore, the victories of former PM Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, Attaullah Tarar and former defence minister Khawaja Asif were assailed in separate petitions before the high court, which allege manipulation of Form 47s.

The petitioners claim that they were successful against their opponents as per the Form 45 handed to them. However, in their absence, their victories were allegedly turned into defeats in the Form 47. The have also alleged collusion in the alteration of election results and demand that the results of Form 47 be prepared according to the Form 45s.

The Commonwealth Observer Group to Pakistan have expressed the hope that the election result process would conclude effectively and reflect the will of people, urging the public to exercise restraint.

Sharing preliminary findings of the group, the head of the observer mission, Goodluck Jonathan called upon the candidates to be magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat.

“We call on all those with grievances to address disputes through prescribed election dispute resolution mechanisms.”

He said the group noted the impact of legal decisions on some candidates’ ability to run for office in the days leading up to election day, including a decision that disallowed the electoral symbol of a main political party.

Read full story here.