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Questions raised as MNA Nawaz chairs Punjab govt meetings
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PTI plans long march, sit-in against ‘rigging’ after Eid
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11 file papers for Nawabshah seat vacated by Zardari
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For more on our elections coverage, go here
Questions raised as MNA Nawaz chairs Punjab govt meetings
PTI plans long march, sit-in against ‘rigging’ after Eid
11 file papers for Nawabshah seat vacated by Zardari
For more on our elections coverage, go here
Multan Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Rizwan Qadeer has said that foolproof security arrangements would be ensured on polling day and CCTV cameras would be installed at sensitive polling stations for comprehensive monitoring, state-run APP reports.
During his visit to review arrangements at different polling stations in Multan, the deputy commissioner said that 240 polling stations had been declared sensitive in the district and assured that adequate security arrangements would be made.
He said that all possible measures were being taken to maintain law and order during the polling process.
In an interview with Independent Urdu, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said it was difficult for him to join hands with the PML-N if it came into power after the February 8 polls.
“I will not become foreign minister if Nawaz comes to power again, I can’t participate in the same old politics. If he breaks away from that and creates an environment that benefits democracy in the country, then I can stand with that,” he said.
“Both major political parties, other than PPP, engage in a politics of hatred and division, and we’re not inclined to join that,” he said. “It feels like having to choose between the devil and deep blue sea,” he said, adding that he hoped PPP was able to form its own government.
Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (r) Maqbool Baqar directed the administration to enforce a code of conduct and provide all necessary facilities to ensure free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections on Feb 8.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, the CM issued these directives during a meeting to review security arrangements for polls in the province.
He instructed the administration to carry out a mock exercise to ensure the foolproof retrieval of election material. This exercise must be carried out in the mock security of the police, Rangers and the army, APP reports.
During the meeting, which was attended by provincial heads and the police chief, CM Baqar was told that 16,704 policemen, 2,552 army personnel, and 133 Quick Response Force members would be deployed for the security of 2738 polling stations.
Caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai has said that internet services will be “temporarily restricted” at sensitive polling booths located in various areas of the province.
“Ensuring the safety and security of ordinary citizens is of utmost importance, as there is a concern that terrorists may exploit social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and other similar channels for communication purposes,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Consequently, Achakzai continues, internet access would be restricted in the run-polls to polls in areas including Turbat, Mach and Chaman.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said he’s the best candidate to become prime minister at the moment owing to the solid grasp he has on multiple issues across the country.
In an interview with The Independent Urdu, the former foreign minister lamented the worsening crises of poverty, inflation and unemployment, as well as the return of terrorism in Pakistan.
“There is a fever of hyperpartisanship and polarisation across the country, and we need to break that fever,” Bilawal said. “I am not just ready [for premiership], I’m the best person to tackle all these issues.”
“Our election campaign has been fantastic, and the response from the people has exceeded our expectations,” he added, claiming that PPP is the only political party in Pakistan to have campaigned in all four provinces.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has promised that he would not allow anyone to divide Karachi or spread hatred in the city.
“You have to come out in large numbers on Feb 8. Leave your houses with your family and use your fundamental right […] vote for the PPP,” he urged supporters at a rally in Karachi.
“Don’t waste your votes on independent candidates,” he added. Rousing the crowd, Bilawal expressed confidence that with the support of the people, it would rain arrows on the poll day.
Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has vowed to change the map of Karachi if he emerges victorious in the forthcoming general elections.
The PPP chairman said he would get Karachi its due rights through representation in the provincial and national assemblies.
“Other parties are contesting polls for their benefits […] but the PPP will work for Karachi and protect its mandate,” he said.
Drawing a comparison between his party and other political parties, Bilawal said everyone else, other than the PPP, was indulging in the politics of hate and revenge.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has thanked the people of Karachi for believing in his party in the local body elections and electing a “jiyala” mayor for the first time in history.
Addressing a rally in Karachi, he urged citizens to vote for the PPP’s MNA and MPA candidates.
Upon reading the manifestos of the leading parties, one is struck by their similarities. The differences appear relatively minor, more in form than in substance.
They all champion the cause of the underprivileged and neglected, competing in concession and subsidies in health, education, housing and utilities if voted to power. However, none of them offer a workable plan to alter the system that perpetuates poverty and generates a poor population.
The growing inequality, economic, regional, gender, etc, undermining structures at their core, did not receive the attention it deserved despite its profound social, political, and economic consequences.
There is a shared perspective among political parties regarding inflation and unemployment. Instead of tracking the root causes of these critical issues, the emphasis is on promising immediate relief through doubling wages/salaries.
Read the full article by Dawn’s Afshan Subohi here.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that his party is not seeking an electoral alliance with any party but is contesting elections on the basis of its own manifesto.
Speaking to Voice of America Urdu, he expressed hopes for political stability in the country and Pakistan moving in “a positive direction”
“Till where it’s possible, I hope elections are free and fair and a level-playing field is established,” he said.
“There needs to be more work on the democratic revolution in Pakistan, and that needs to start with politicians. They need to respect each other, and if they don’t, they can’t expect others to,” he said.
He added that politicians needed to keep politics as politics, and not let it translate into enmity. “We need to be tolerant of the fact that there will be differing opinions, but that should not lead to strong enmity,” he added.
PML-N organiser Maryam Nawaz has urged the people of Murree to think hard before they vote on February 8, promising to build a state-of-the-art hospital in the “heart of Punjab”.
At a massive rally in Murree, she said: “It is time to chase out intruders […] vote for Nawaz Sharif. He will bring business and make the lives of labourers easy. He will make flour cheap.”
“Only two days are left. I want to tell you, I have a message that a vote is not just a piece of paper, it will determine your future and well-being,” Maryam added.
PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has hailed the people of Murree for attending a party rally in large numbers during cold weather.
Addressing a rally alongside her father Nawaz Sharif, she said the city was had a special place in her heart.
“People from all over visit this place for tourism,” Maryam added.
At a rally in Murree, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif highlighted the achievements of his 2013 government. He also compared the current prices of roti, vegetables, and tractors with those in 2013.
“When I was prime minister, I was serving the people […] Didn’t we combat loadshedding and make electricity cheaper?” he asked.
The former premier went on to claim that the billion tree tsunami launched by the Imran Khan-led government was a scam.
PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif is addressing a rally in Murree. Speaking to the large crowd, the former premier highlighted how he has been visiting the city since 1956.
Nawaz said his first project as a politician was the motorway from Rawalpindi to Murree during his tenure as the Punjab chief minister in 1985.
Ex-PTI leader Usman Dar’s mother Rehana Dar, who is contesting the upcoming polls, will hold a “peaceful march” in Sialkot at 2pm today to express solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir.
In a post on X, she said, “We would take to the streets on February 5 as well before February 8.”
The manifestos released recently by the three major contenders for power — PML-N, PTI and PPP — reflect little understanding and comprehension of the grave economic challenges by their leaders, who are aspiring to lead the country for the next five years. All three documents are heavy on rhetoric but light on concrete plans and strategies to achieve the goals set in the manifestos.
On top of that, these parties have opted to make populist announcements rather than explain the gravity of the economic crisis to their voters and prepare them for tough decisions they will have to make to fix it.
For example, the PML-N, whose leadership takes credit for ‘development’ and building a vast network of motorways and roads, has pledged 10 million jobs, enhanced public wages to match inflation and reduced electricity bills. The PPP has promised to double salaries, provide free electricity up to 300 units, give jobs to the youth and provide subsidies to alleviate the burden of inflation.
Read the full story from Dawn’s Nasir Jamal here.
Renowned political activist Jibran Nasir, who is contesting the general elections from Karachi’s PS-110, will be holding a corner meeting at 7:30pm today.
Jamaat-i-Islami’s Senator Mushtaq Ahmed has said that if voted to power, his party would “fix” the country’s issues by taking the following steps:
Senator Raza Rabbani has said that the observation of faults with the Election Management System (EMS) “cast a serious question on the reliability and validity of the software”.
In a statement, he said the system had “started to show faults even before election day”. He noted that two returning officers had reported faults in the system.
“According to media reports, returning officer [of] NA- 197 has written that duties of polling staff were uploaded on the system but later couldn’t be found. He further said that the system was either a failure or was being controlled,” Rabbani said.
“These observations cast a serious question on the reliability and validity of the software. The history of 2018, should not repeat itself as the federation cannot afford further political instability,” he said.
PPP’s Nayyar Hussain Bukhari has claimed that his party will lead the coalition government formed after the elections, adding that it will be led by party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Bukhari pinned the responsibility of conducting fair and free polls on the Election Commission of Pakistan, the caretaker governments, and law enforcement agencies.
“There should be no question mark over the election results,” he said. “It should be a result that is acceptable to the public,” he said.
He also alleged that 1,100 sanitary workers of the Capital Development Authority were not being allowed to cast their votes.
“According to election laws, government employees cast their vote wherever their duty is,” Bukhari said. “No arrangement has been made for them to exercise their right to vote,” he said.
The PPP leader urged the electoral watchdog to take notice of this.
Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi has said that more than 120 million people will exercise their right to vote on Feb 8.
According to PTV, he made the remarks while addressing a ceremony.
Solangi said the caretaker government helped the Election Commission of Pakistan in every way to pave the way for polls.
“Elections are just two days away,” he added. “People will choose their representatives by exercising their right to vote.”
The information minister concluded that according to the Constitution, the country would be run by its elected representatives.
Speaking to the media in Karachi, Mayor Murtaza Wahab asserted that he had not violated the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) code of conduct.
He said he received a notice from the ECP’s regional officer on January 26 and had promptly responded the next day. He said he had received another notice recently that was also accompanied with a fine of Rs50,000.
Murtaza questioned the motives behind these actions, wondering if they were personal or related to past professional disagreements. He emphasised that his activities on the roads were solely dedicated to serving the people of Karachi.
He asserted that he had not participated in any election campaigns and had no plans to do so in the future.
Murtaza also pointed out that election campaigns were being led by other UC chairmen, including Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. He questioned why their activities went unnoticed, while his efforts to address public grievances resulted in notices and fines.
The leaders of Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) have warned candidates from various political parties contesting elections in Makran to withdraw their candidates, or the people will give them a shameful defeat against HDT on February 8.
Speaking at a large public meeting on Sunday at Shahada Jeweni Chowk in Gwadar, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch expressed that HDT is facing challenges from land mafias, drug barons, and trawler mafias who are fielding candidates against HDT nominees in the elections.
Maulana Hidayat is contesting the Provincial Assembly seat PB-24 (Gwadar), while Hussain Wadila is running for NA-259 (Turbat-Awaran-Lasbela). Large numbers of people from Turbat, Panjgur, Jeweni, Ormara, and other areas of Makran attended the public meeting.
Read more here.
The president of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal), Akhtar Mengal has cautioned that a robust public response will follow if their mandate and votes are manipulated.
He accused the local administration of favouring his opponents, emphasising the BNP’s demand for a free, fair, and transparent election on February 8.
During a public meeting in his hometown Wadh held in connection with his party’s election campaign, where he is also running as a joint candidate of JUI-F and BNP-M, Mengal stated that every party and its people had the right to engage in politics and participate in elections.
Read more here.
The PTI has alleged that “police along with masked unidentified men” sealed the election office of their candidates Aliya Hamza and Saba Deewan in Lahore.
It further claimed that the police “after harassing the women” in the office warned them of “loss” if they conducted their election campaign against PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz.
Pakistan goes to the polls this week in an exceedingly fraught atmosphere marked by uncertainty about the future. In the country’s 12th general election a record number of 128.5 million voters will decide who forms the next government.
Punjab, of course, has more voters — 73.2m — than those in the other three provinces put together, which makes it the battleground province that will determine the outcome of the national election.
There are 5,113 candidates in the contest for 266 general seats of the 342-member Lower House in the country’s first-past-the-post system. A total number of 12,638 candidates are in the run for assembly seats in the four provinces. There are 313 female contenders for National Assembly seats, the highest ever, but still only 6pc of the total, while 568 female candidates are in the race for provincial assembly seats.
Read the full op-ed here.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz will hold a public meeting in Murree at the General Post Office (GPO) square on Monday afternoon.
The PML-N has given the party ticket to Raja Usama AshfaqSarwar in NA-51, which comprises Murree, Kotli Sattian, and Kahuta tehsils.
Raja Usama Ashfaq Sarwar is the son of Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, who was PML-N Punjab chapter vice president.
After the former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi decided to stay away from the 2024 polls, the PML-N awarded ticket to the young son of Raja Ashfaq Sarwar.
To run the campaign for Raja Usama Ashfaq Sarwar, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have decided to visit Murree. The PML-N’s main political gathering was held on January 27 in Rawalpindi, where former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the city to address the voters and supporters.
Read full story here
In a significant step towards upcoming general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed the printing of 260 million ballot papers for all 859 National and provincial assembly constituencies.
ECP spokesman Syed Nadeem Haider told Dawn that except for around a dozen districts, the delivery of ballot papers to district returning officers (DROs) has been completed and in the remaining districts, the ballot papers will be delivered today (Monday).
He said in the 2018 general elections 220m ballot papers were printed and 800 tonnes of special security paper had been used. This time, he said, 260m ballot papers have been printed on which 2,170 tonnes of paper has been used.
Read more here.
The traffic police in Peshawar have been provided training for election duties as the polls near.
In a post on X, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police said that the officials were informed about the standard operating procedures.
It asserted that traffic issues faced by the citizens would be “immediately solved” and that a traffic plan had been devised for the polling day.
Luke Rahmat is the first individual from the Kalash valleys to contest the elections on a general seat of the provincial assembly from Lower Chitral as previously they could only think of a reserved seat on non-Muslim quota from the platform of a political party.
In his early 40s and being one of the first few graduates from the Kalash community, Rahmat has to his credit experience in rural development as he has been associated with the Ayun and Kalash valleys development programme for over a decade.
Talking to reporters at the Chitral Press Club, he said he had ventured into the poll arena though he was not hopeful about his success due to the numerical inferiority of his community. However, he said his initiative would embolden other young people in his community to compete in every walk of life.
Read full story here
After practically blocking the restructuring of FBR, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also asked the government to “refrain from taking any further steps including signing of an agreement”, about the privatisation of PIA or its entities till its formal clearance.
In a letter to the cabinet secretary less than a week ahead of general elections, the ECP reminded the federal government of Article 230 of the Constitution, which explains the roles and limitations of the caretaker government and sought all relevant cabinet documentation, according to sources.
The election commission has “directed that the caretaker government should refrain from taking any further steps including signing of an agreement in this regard, till a decision is made by this Commission under Section 230” of the constitution.
Read more here.
The evolving political landscape in Pakistan ahead of its third consecutive parliamentary election on Feb 8 presents a complex web of challenges, US think tanks argue in their election reports.
According to them, the confluence of political repression, militant threats, and military influence cast a shadow over the democratic process, leaving questions about the fairness of the elections and potential implications for Pakistan’s democratic future.
The military’s alleged favouritism toward ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, who returns from exile with legal reprieve, raises suspicions of manipulation, amplifying concerns about the fairness of the upcoming polls. The international community, including the US, closely watches these developments, as the fairness of the electoral process is questioned.
US think tanks express concerns about thousands of candidates from Imran Khan’s party, the PTI, facing rejected nomination papers and various forms of harassment.
Read more here.
Haqooq-i-Khalk Party President Farooq Tariq has shared lively visuals from the election office of the party’s Lahore candidate Ammar Ali Jan.
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has said that there cannot be free and fair elections in Pakistan when “one of the opposition parties has been criminalised”.
In a post on X, she recalled raising concerns about human rights in Pakistan in November, adding that “things have only gotten worse”.
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi has said that only those who are committed to “living and dying” in Pakistan have the right to rule the country.
Speaking at a rally in Karachi, he commended those who have remained loyal to the country since its independence.
“Those who are asking for our manifesto are the ones without any manifesto themselves, and are involved in corruption,” he told the rally.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar stated that those who propagated conspiracy theories about the scheduled elections have been proven wrong, as the elections are set to proceed on February 8.
Speaking in Geo News programme Jirga, the premier said several individuals had alleged that the interim government was attempting to extend its tenure, a claim that has proven unfounded.
“We will hand over the reins to the new government and go home,” he said.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has taken notice of the reports of alleged purchase of votes in NA-127 (Lahore) and directed relevant officials to form a committee to probe the matter.
In a letter to the Provincial Election Commissioner of Punjab, the additional director general of the ECP emphasised the need for a swift investigation into the reported “vote purchase” and sought a prompt submission of a comprehensive report to the ECP.
Lawyer and independent candidate Jibran Nasir has taken the government to court over social media shutdowns, saying it sets a “dangerous precedent” for the future and violates people’s constitutional rights.
“It is a direct attack on the freedom of expression of all Pakistanis regardless of what part of the political spectrum they belong to,” he told AFP.
“I primarily rely on social media because, given the inflation, it is virtually impossible to run a fully-fledged campaign within the budget limits.”
AFP spoke to two other independents who said their messaging was also affected.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman to take action against the perpetrators behind the attack on PPP’s office in Lahore.
In a letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the electoral watchdog stated that it took serious notice of the attack on PPP’s office in NA-127.
“The initial report submitted by DIG operations, Lahore, to the district monitoring officer, has been considered in this commission,” the ECP stated.
“And the honourable commission has directed to take strict action under the law against the accused persons involved in the incident,” it said.
Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the PPP is well-acquainted with the PML-N, as their leaders are “most vindictive” and tend to hold onto past grudges.
“I believe if we talk about taking revenge, then our purpose of serving the masses won’t be fulfilled,” Bilawal said in reference to the PML-N supremo.
The PPP leader added that Nawaz would resort to revenge tactics if he returns to power, regardless of whether it takes six months or even two years.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has successfully completed printing of 260 million ballot papers for all constituencies in the country, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
According to the ECP spokesman, National Assembly ballots are printed on green paper while those for the provincial assembly are printed on white paper.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said “it is difficult for him to support” the outcome of the Iddat case in which Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi were both sentenced to seven years in jail.
During an interview with Dawn News, Bilawal remarked that efforts made in the past to safeguard women’s rights may also be negatively impacted by the verdict.
“The way it is all running on the media, I do not want to get into this gutter,” he said.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari says that the February 8 elections will lack “legitimacy and standing” if criticism on polls continues.
In an interview with Dawn News, he remarked, “All elections have faced scrutiny, and the same is happening with these polls as well.”
Bilawal has said that the people of Karachi will resist MQM’s return to power, citing the “party’s attempts to divide the city on different pretexts in the past”.
In an interview with Dawn News, Bilawal said, “The people of Karachi will vote for the PPP just like they did in the recent local bodies elections.”
He added, “The people of Karachi have already rejected the politics of hate by MQM.”
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari claims that the PML-N is on track to lose the upcoming elections, accusing the party of employing violent tactics against its opponents in Punjab.
In an interview with Dawn News programme ‘Doosra Rukh’, Bilawal said local representatives of the PPP in Punjab were being tortured. “This shows that we have already won the polls.”
PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has thrown a challenge to key rivals Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif, asking them to engage in a public debate with his party.
Addressing a public gathering in Buner, Gohar said, “Shehbaz and Bilawal are issuing debate challenges to each other. If they are up for a debate, they should do it with us in public so that the masses can make their own judgment.”
Gohar further pointed out Bilawal’s intent to form a government using independent candidates, stating, “He seems to have forgotten that those independents are part of PTI’s tiger force that stands with Imran.”
Bilawal has called on the people of Hyderabad to vote for the PPP in the February 8 elections, urging them to ensure that his party secures all seats. He expressed the desire to personally spearhead development initiatives in the city.
Speaking at a party rally, the PPP leader criticised the lack of positive contributions from any party to the city’s development in the past.
He added, “You have to block attempts of all those parties who are trying to come to power again and have no past performance.”
Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has pledged to double the country’s income if voted to power in the upcoming Feb 8 elections.
Speaking at the party’s rally in Hyderabad, he declared, “I am committed not only to boosting the economy but to doubling it.”
He reiterated his promise to construct 3 million houses for the underprivileged once in power. Bilawal also assured the provision of 300 megawatts of free electricity through solar energy to benefit those in need.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the PPP’s opponents rely on politics centered around “violence, hate, and division.”
Speaking at a rally in Hyderabad, he highlighted the tendency of certain parties to exploit religious or ethnic differences among voters.
Bilawal underscored the PPP’s commitment to eradicating the politics of animosity and concentrating on resolving the genuine issues confronting the masses.
Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq said that the February 8 general elections will bring an end to corruption, illiteracy, poverty and unrest for the people of Pakistan.
“February 8 elections will bring prosperity for the people of the country, it will bring peace,” Haq said while addressing a rally at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi.
“All the candidates that are sitting with me, they are all from the people,” he said. “I think that the poor people of Pakistan, the labourers, lawyers, capable doctors, social workers and business persons should come up,” he added.
“Today, because of the People’s Party and Muslim league, 100 million people in this country live below the poverty line,” he said.
“One prince says that my father was president, my mother was premier, my grandfather was prime minister so I should become the prime minister as it is my inheritance,” he said.
“The other says I have been prime minister three times so I should become the premier for the fourth time,” Haq said.
“I want to ask the people of Pakistan that for the past 40 years, these people have been forced on you [but] when will you respond? When will your turn come?” he asked.
MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal has said that his party will support the ANP candidate contesting from Karachi’s PS-88 Malir 5.
Speaking to the media alongside ANP Sindh president Shahi Syed at Mardan House in the city, Kamal said: “MQM-P will help their brother in every way to win this seat. We will want our share to increase by ANP winning this provincial assembly seat.”
He made it clear that this was not an election move but a way to move forward despite differences.
“This is no doubt a seat adjustment but it is not about taking and giving seats but something greater than that for our younger generations to come,” Kamal said.
PPP co-chairperson Asif Zardari has promised the people of Talagang in Punjab a chance to earn money in Pakistan instead of going abroad.
“We will give you the chance to earn here,” the former president said while addressing a party rally, adding that he would give them their due agricultural earnings.
Highlighting how he served the people during his time in power, Zardari said the PPP always paid heed to the voice of the poor. “We made a card in the name of Benazir Bhutto to help poor women,” he said.
Zardari said he was aware that the people of Talagang needed water, infrastructure, passport offices, and also a place to visit the commissioner and his deputy.
“We will do this for you. The love you showed me for two days will never be forgotten,” he said.
Sheikhupura police officer Zahid Nawaz has vowed to send “troublemakers” who try to disrupt the election process on polling day to jail.
Addressing a press conference alongside RPO Sheikhupura Babar Sarfraz, the police officer said: “We will send troublemakers to jail who try to make an effort or even intend to disrupt the poll process under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance.”
“I have personally issued the election code of conduct letters bearing my signature to candidates contesting in Sheikhupura,” Nawaz added. “No candidate has permission to brandish weapons and harass any other person,” he said.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sheikhupura Babar Sarfraz has said that no policemen on poll duty are allowed to touch any election material.
Addressing a press conference in Sheikhupura, the RPO added that all the policemen have been briefed thoroughly about this.
“We want to ensure that the impartiality of police is visible in the eyes of the people on polling day,” Sarfraz added.
He said that a special force had been formed for election duty, which consisted of retired personnel and other government department employees.
“We also checked the affiliations of civilian volunteers and had them cleared before recruiting them,” the RPO said.
Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari has said that her brother Bilawal had made sure that all those who lost their homes in the unprecedented floods of 2022 were given a new one.
Speaking to PPP supporters in Sadiqabad, she said Bilawal will award the ownership of homes to the females of the family.
“Only PPP gives people homes,” she said. “The rest of the parties take away your homes,” she said. Aseefa said only her party cares about the people and their suffering.
“You promise me that you will support Bilawal so that he speaks, works, and fights for you,” she added. “The rest of the people play politics for themselves but we do it for you.”
Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari has said that the PPP’s primary focus is health for the people.
Addressing a rally in Sadiqabad, Aseefa said her party made hospitals that provide free treatment.
“For heart disease, we made NICVD,” she said. “We made Child Life Foundation for children and SIUT for kidney-related illnesses,” she said.
PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar said that he saw large queues of people outside the PPP’s election office in Lahore.
“I asked someone what is happening here and they said people’s party workers are distributing money after asking for identity cards (ID),” Tarar said, adding that these people were then asked to vow on religious texts to vote for the PPP in the general elections.
He said that after going inside they found cash counting machines with bundles of cash, iPads which were being used to list down ID card numbers, ID card copies and receipts for the transactions.
PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar has said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is mistaken if he thinks he can win elections from Lahore, reminding him that he does not have any “on-ground presence” and voters in the region.
“Those who do not have any on-ground presence here, those whose voters are not present here, who think that they can buy votes after spending some amount of money. This is not a business […] this is an election,” Tarar said while addressing a press conference in Lahore.
He said that the PPP incorrectly decided to contest elections from Lahore as the party did not have a vote bank in the city.
Jahangir Khan Tareen, the patron-in-chief of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party, has said that he is contesting polls to represent his constituency.
Speaking to the media in Multan, he said, “I don’t need anything. I just want to represent this constituency.”
Commenting on Imran Khan’s conviction in the Iddat case, he said, “It was the decision of the court’s and everyone should respect the courts”.
Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi has said the country will be handed over to an elected government in a much better state than it was in previously.
According to PTV News, he made the remarks while addressing a seminar organised by the Press Information Department.
“It is written in the preamble of the Constitution of Pakistan that this country will be run by its elected representatives,” he said. “Elected representatives come through elections. Despite all the speculations, we stuck to our position,” he said.
Talking about the rights of minorities, Solangi stressed that Pakistan will have to give equal rights to them, saying that they had a huge share in “our great achievements”.
“The minority community is playing an active role in the health and education system,” he added.
Solangi hoped that the future government would focus on the basic problems of the country. “No country is strong without economic security and strength,” he concluded.
Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan Tareen has said he would work with Nawaz Sharif post-election to strengthen the economy.
Addressing a rally in Multan, he said he had no problem working with the PML-N supremo. Tareen vowed to provide tens of thousands of jobs if he emerged victorious in the polls.
“We will try that everyone who votes for us, we work for their betterment. One cannot only work for themselves,” he said.
Former premier and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has said everyone had the right to campaign but asserted that “purchasing votes” is the worst form of disrespect to the democratic process.
His comments came after PML-N leader Atta Tarar alleged that the PPP was “buying votes” by seizing identity cards of people. At the same time, the Bilawal-led party claimed that Tarar and his “goons” stormed the PPP’s office in Lahore and harassed party workers.
“Everyone has a right to participated in electioneering, but this business is nothing but demeaning the vote […] this is not ‘vote ko izzat do’,” Shehbaz said.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan’s improved position on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) proves his party’s honesty and sincerity with the nation.
In a report released earlier this week, the Transparency Index said Pakistan’s position on the corruption index improved by seven spots from 140 out of 180 countries in 2022 to 133 in 2023.
At a press conference, Shehbaz referred to the report and said that the truthfulness of a leader could only be gauged by the level of corruption in the society.
“When I was appointed PM, you know how the worst flood came […] we distributed aid, we distributed free flour in Punjab […] and God willing, CPI, which had reached its height during the tenure of Imran Niazi, came down to 133 in just a year,” he said.
“The credit goes to Nawaz Sharif. What I want to say is that a poison was spread in the country by chanting chor,” Shehbaz added.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has said the future of millions of people in the country was attached to the Feb 8 elections.
At a press conference in Lahore, he lamented that corruption allegations were hurled at the PML-N and Nawaz Sharif in 2013. “But, god willing, no one could prove these accusations.”
PML-N Marriyum Aurangzeb has said party president and former premier Shehbaz Sharif will address an important press conference shortly.
Two teenage boys were shot at and wounded in a clash between activists of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan in New Karachi late on Friday night, police said on Saturday.
The police claimed to have arrested around 30 suspects belonging to both sides.
Both the parties held separate press conferences and levelled allegations and counter allegations, holding each other responsible for the breakdown of law and order.
One of the boys suffered a bullet wound in the head and his condition was said to be critical. A third victim of the clash suffered injuries when both sides pelted each other with stones.
Read more here.
PTI leaders during a power show in Swabi said implicating the party founder and former prime minister in what they said baseless and politically-motivated cases had backfired as popularity of the incarcerated leader had increased manifold, which would be proven in the Feb 8 elections.
The power show was held in Naro Kali area, three kilometers from the district headquarters, along the Swabi-Mardan Road.
PTI district president Sohail Yousafzai claimed that the party managed to hold a successful show despite facing roadblocks from the police and the district administration.
The speakers said the powers that be were adamant on bringing to the helm PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif by entangling their leader (Imran) in ‘fabricated cases’.
PTI General Secretary Omar Ayub claims a party worker in Haripur, identified as Allahyar Khan, has “disappeared” from police custody.
“Allahyar Khan has been shifted to an unknown location and Haripur Police is not informing his family members as to where he is or the charges against him despite the fact that 24 hours have passed since his arrest,” he wrote on X.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman has expressed displeasure at the violation of the election code of conduct and bullying by PML-N workers.
In a post on X, she condemned the attack on the PPP’s election office a day earlier and demanded immediate action from the ECP. “The election commission should take strict notice of this incident and reject the papers of the representatives involved in the attack,” she demanded.
“Due to the popularity of the People’s Party in Lahore under the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the opponents have become confused,” Sherry added.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conducted another mock test of the controversial Election Management System (EMS) to be used for the upcoming general elections and described the trial as successful as the previous one.
The system designed for tabulation and compilation of election results, successfully completed all the required steps and goals, the ECP said.
According to ECP spokesman Syed Nadeem Haider, returning officers of 859 constituencies across the country participated in the experimental exercise of EMS and the system’s eligibility was tested both online and offline and was found to be satisfactory in all respects.
He explained that the main purpose of EMS was tabulation and compilation of election results and it would be used on the polling day.
Read more here.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has ruled that electoral laws must be interpreted by courts in favour of enfranchisement rather than disenfranchisement so that maximum choice remains with the voters to elect their future leadership.
“The aim of prescribing qualifications and disqualifications (under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution) for candidates to contest elections is to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the political process,” observed Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah in a judgement he wrote.
These criteria are designed to ensure that individuals holding public office meet certain standards, Justice Shah observed, adding that in a well-functioning democracy, the criteria for qualifications and disqualifications were clearly defined, publicly known and uniformly applied.
Courts should deal with the matters of acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers with this approach, which is rooted in the constitutional rights and values, Justice Shah wrote.
Read full story here.
The rivalry between the PML-N and PPP in NA-127 intensified when the former’s candidate Atta Tarar allegedly barged into the latter’s party office along with his supporters on the claim that votes were being bought there for his opponent candidate PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
The PPP has termed it an attack on the party election office by the “PML-N goons” led by Atta Tarar in which they abducted some PPP workers as well. The PPP also announced moving the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the PML-N candidate.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has disqualified PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi for five years after his conviction in the cipher case.
In a notification issued today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the commission barred him from the upcoming February 8 general elections as well as “any subsequent elections for a period of five years”.
It added that he was disqualified under Article 63(1h) of the Constitution, read with Section 232 of the Elections Act, 2017.
PML-N leader Ataullah Tarar has alleged that PPP members were caught by him engaging in “buying and selling of votes” in Lahore’s NA-127 constituency.
Sindh Inspector General Riffat Mukhtar Raja has instructed officials to enhance the election security plan in light of the recent law and order challenges in the provincial capital.
Chairing a meeting today, the police chief emphasised that any information regarding “minor incidents” should not be disregarded. Instead, prompt follow-up actions must be taken to prevent the situation from worsening.
He urged the expansion of the intelligence network at polling stations and their surrounding areas. “Swift responses are essential for addressing code of conduct violations during patrolling.
He said there should be an increased focus on random snap checks, reconnaissance, and heightened monitoring of areas,“ he instructed the officials.
It is pertinent to mention here that a law and order situation escalated on Friday night in the New Karachi area as political workers from two parties clashed, resulting in the death of a teenager.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari claimed that Nawaz Sharif, aspiring for a fourth term as prime minister, is unwilling to engage in a debate with him.
“He’s afraid of the people and is seeking rigging, similar to what was done for Imran Khan,” he claimed at a party rally.
Taking a swipe at the former premier, Bilawal noted that the PML-N has not organised a single rally in Sindh, emphasising their lack of substantial work in the province during their tenure in power.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has alleged that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is pressuring officials of the caretaker government to send Form-45s and Form-47s ahead of time to Raiwind to rig the polls for Mirpurkhas.
“He wants that he can decide the results of Mirpurkhas while sitting in Raiwing,” he said while referring to Nawaz. “He is conspiring about how to usurp Mirpurkhas’s vote.”
Bilawal said the PML-N wanted to get the PPP contestants defeated and asked the charged crowd if it would allow that to happen.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has alleged that other political parties are only busy “taking personal revenge” instead of engaging in politics.
Addressing an election rally in Mirpurkhas, he said the other parties were pursuing politics of “hate and division” instead of serving the nation.
“If we are doing politics then it is because we want to serve you. If we are competing then it is against poverty, unemployment and inflation instead of any other party.”
