ISLAMABAD: The Election Management System has received results from various constituencies across Pakistan, providing insights into the unfolding electoral landscape.
In total, results from constituencies have been received, shedding light on the composition of both the National and Provincial Assemblies. Among the National Assembly’s 129 constituencies, a diverse mix of candidates has secured victories, including 88 independents, 61 from PML-N, and 46 from the People’s Party.
Similarly, in Punjab Assembly’s 13 constituencies, PML-N emerged as the leading party with 8 wins, followed by 3 independent candidates and 2 seats secured by PML-Q.
The Sindh Assembly results indicate a sweeping victory for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), with successful outcomes in all 28 constituencies received thus far.
Moving to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, independent candidates dominated the electoral landscape, securing victory in 36 out of 39 constituencies. However, PML-N clinched two seats, while JUI secured one seat in the assembly.
Lastly, in Balochistan, the JUI-P emerged victorious in the received constituency results, reflecting the diverse political dynamics across the country.
These results provide a glimpse into the evolving political landscape of Pakistan, showcasing the varied electoral outcomes and the distribution of power among different political entities in the National and Provincial Assemblies.
Meanwhile, The European Union, while reacting to allegations of rigging in Pakistan’s general elections, has called upon the relevant authorities to ensure a timely and full investigation of all reported election irregularities and to implement the recommendations of the upcoming EU Election Expert Mission report.
“The EU welcomes the increased number of women registered to vote compared to the last elections,” Peter Stano, lead spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement on Friday.
“We regret the lack of a level-playing field due to the inability of some political actors to contest the elections, restrictions to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression both online and offline, restrictions of access to the internet, as well as allegations of severe interference in the electoral process, including arrests of political activists,” it added.
“We therefore call upon the relevant authorities to ensure a timely and full investigation of all reported election irregularities and to implement the recommendations of the upcoming EU Election Expert Mission report.”
The EU stated that it has taken note of the completion of the polling in the elections, which took place on 8 February in Pakistan, following several months of postponement and uncertainty, and in a context of a tense security environment. “The participation by the Pakistani people to exercise their right to vote, despite systemic barriers still faced by women and persons belonging to minorities, demonstrates their commitment to democracy and the rule of law,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said that the authorities were faced with the challenging task of countering serious terrorist threats and attacks. The EU condemns all acts of violence, which took place in the lead up to the elections and calls on all parties and actors to use peaceful and democratic mechanisms to settle differences, refraining from further violence.
“The EU attaches paramount importance to political pluralism, democratic values, independent media, vibrant civil society, judicial independence and international human rights standards, which are key for democratic elections,” the spokesperson said. “We call on all political actors in Pakistan to engage in a peaceful and inclusive dialogue aiming at the formation of a stable government and to respect human rights in line with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as well as with international treaties to which Pakistan is party.”
The EU spokesperson called Pakistan an important partner and the European Union look forward to continuing to work with the government of Pakistan on the priorities agreed in the EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan. “We encourage Pakistan to continue reforms in the areas of human rights, good governance, as well as labour rights and environmental standards, to address the shortcomings outlined in the GSP+ report of November 2023, and to continue the necessary economic reforms,” the spokesperson added.
56 terrorist incidents take place across country on election day: Gohar
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister for Interior Dr. Gohar Ejaz said on Friday that a total of 56 terrorist incident were taken place on February 8 Election Day to sabotage the electoral process.
Briefing media persons about the overall security situation and challenges specifically regarding election day, he said that the biggest challenge of the caretaker government was to provide security to the people of the country on election day.
Sharing details of the casualties, the minister informed that 3 military jawans, 2 levies jawans, 7 police officials, 4 civilians including 2 minors lost their lives in the incidents.
The government had made a difficult decision to shut down the mobile service across the country in a high-level meeting on February 7 after the two deadliest terrorist incidents in which 28 innocent lives were lost, he added.
The minister said that the government had received intelligence reports that the terrorist would carry out activities in different places through detonated devices.
He congratulated the deployment of hundreds of thousands of regular and civil armed forces, other law enforcement agencies and civilian officials across the country for successful conduct of the general elections.
Dr. Gohar said that 61 incidents of violence were also reported across the country during elections adding, all the incidents were being investigated in details and the action would be taken against culprits.
He said that deaths of 28 people and serious injuries to 64 others in terrorist incidents just one day prior to the elections forced the state to take several measures for ensuring safety of the citizens.
This also included the difficult decision of suspending the mobile phone services across the country to disallow terrorists the means to communicate, coordinate and conduct terrorist operations, he added.
The minister said mobile devices were also instrumental in initiating the trigger mechanisms for modern explosive devices for mass casualties.
The government was fully aware that suspension of mobile services would impact the transmission of election results across the country and delay the process, however, the choice between this delay and safety of the citizens was quite straightforward and the decision was taken, he said.
Physical transportation of election results from widely spread polling stations and especially in distant places in Balochistan, KP and even in rural areas of Punjab and Sindh, with such elaborate security measures was also a laborious and time consuming exercise, he maintained.
The minister said even with such stringent security measures in place, the election day saw 61 incidents of violence including terrorist attacks employing sophisticated weapons and explosive devices which consumed the lives of 16 citizens and caused injuries to 54 others.
He said that all institutions involved in this historic exercise, especially the Election Commision of Pakistan which had little control of the security situation, deserved acknowledgement and gratitude rather than criticism and denigration.
PPP has always demonstrated grace in both victory and defeat, Sherry
LAHORE, Senator Sherry Rehman, Vice-President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), on Wednesday, said it is a democratic right to question process in a few constituencies. It does not mean we prematurely reject the whole process.”
Speaking during a press conference in Lahore, she said: “A lack of explanations for the sudden changes in the results of NA-127 was unexpected and merits an scrutiny.”
Sherry Rehman said, “We will patiently await the results before issuing PPP’s final statement on the polls. We are asking for the right figures which is our constitutional right. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has consistently demonstrated grace in both victory and defeat, and our approach has consistently steered away from advocating for conflict and instability. PPP’s commitment remains focused on upholding democratic values and ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.”
Govt fulfilled pledge to hold peaceful, orderly conduct of polls : Solangi
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Friday,felicitating nation over the peaceful and orderly conduct of general elections, said the caretaker government had fulfilled the solemn pledge of holding elections in line with time-frame, given by Election Commission of Pakistan( ECP).
Addressing a press conference along with Caretaker Interior Minister Dr Gohar Ijaz, he said despite speculations and multiple challenges,”we have consistently stood by our stand regarding the conduct of elections”.
Replying to a question, he said there was no shutdown of Internet on election day and added the fixed broadband was functioning and social media platforms were fully used by the subscribers.
He pointed out Internet suspension was not specific to Pakistan since many countries opted for the shutdown of Internet service, simply due to security reasons.
Sharing data, he said that in 2022, the Internet was shut down 187 times in 35 countries of the world and a neighbouring country, with purported democratic credentials, closed Internet service for 84 times.
He said Pakistan had been fighting the longest war against the scourge of terrorism with over hundred thousand martyrdoms.
He said on election day, 16 persons lost their lives in 61 incidents of violence and on the previous day, 28 persons were martyred in two incidents of terrorism.
Solangi said since January 15 this year, there were 47 incidents of terrorism including seven improvised explosive device blasts and 26 grenade attacks.
Answering a question, the minister said the temporary shutdown of mobile phone service was imperative for protection of people’s lives.
On Thursday, the head of the Commonwealth Observer Group pointed out that when there were no mobile phones and Internet service, even then democracy was in vogue and elections were conducted around the world.
The minister said that ECP SMS service 8300 had been functional since January 29 and most of the voters must have got the required information in advance.
He acknowledged that people had faced some difficulties, but protecting citizens’ lives was the main task and obligation of the security agencies and the Ministry of Interior.
“It was more important for us to save people’s lives and mobile phone service shut-down was done due to security threats,” Murtaza Solangi remarked.
To a question, he said a large number of independent candidates were elected which was the indication of the fairness of the electoral process.
Principal Information Officer Dr Tariq Mehmood Khan was also present on the occasion.
PPP alleges rigging as Bilawal loses to Tarar in Lahore
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Sherry Rehman has claimed that election results of Lahore’s constituency were manipulated, where party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lost polls to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Attaullah Tarar.
As per the unofficial and unconfirmed results, Tarar secured 98,210 votes against PPP’s Bilawal who came third with 15,005 votes in NA-127.
PTI rules out forming coalition govt with PPP, PML-N
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday said that it is in a position to form government at the Centre and ruled out forging an alliance with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He claimed that PTI is winning 150 National Assembly seats and would be able to achieve the required number of seats to form government at the Centre.
“We are not intending to form a coalition government with PPP and PML-N, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
“We will form the government at the Centre and Punjab,” he added.
He said the PTI has a clear lead in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and will form government there as well.
“PTI will remain in Parliament and will play its role.”
He said independent candidates belong to PTI and asserted they would not join any party against party directives amid fears of horse trading.
His statement comes shortly after PML-N senior leader Ishaq Dar claimed that independent candidates, who are emerging victorious in the 2024 general elections, are in contact with the party.
“The independents have contacted us and they will join any party in the next 72 hours as per the Constitution,” said the former finance minister while speaking to Geo News on Friday as the election results continue to pour in.
Dar said that the PML-N cannot force anyone to join the party, adding that they are being contacted by candidates who are willing to join their party.
Nawaz seeks unity govt after ‘election triumph’
LAHORE: Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) candidate for the premiership, said Friday he seeks to form a united government after his party “emerged victorious” in the February 8 general election.
“I have tasked Shehbaz Sharif to meet Fazlur Rehman, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Asif Ali Zardari today,” Nawaz told a charged crowd in Lahore’s Model Town, which was dubbed as his “victory speech”.
However, as the results trickle in, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidates are leading with more than 100 seats to their name, while the PML-N is trailing behind.
The party’s top leaders, on the contrary, said that their candidates have won a majority of the seats and will form government in the centre.
Bilawal concerned at ‘incredibly slow’ pace of results
KARACHI/ LAHORE: PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed concerns on the incredibly slow pace of results after the conclusion of voting in the general election 2024.
In a post on microblogging site “X”, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “Results are incredibly slow coming in. However, initial results are very encouraging!”
Bilawal claimed that the PPP candidates and “independents whom we have supported/engaged with seem to be doing well! Let’s see what the final tally is in the end.”
Meanwhile, PPP Central Election Cell’s In-charge Senator Taj Haider has written a letter to the Election Commission (ECP) highlighting alleged irregularities in the polling process at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) provincial assembly’s PK-16 constituency.
According to Haider, the PPP candidate at the constituency had claimed that polling was held at High School Timergara polling station in an opaque manner.
Polling staff sent groups of 10 women voters to cast votes in closed rooms and the polling agents of the party were barred from entering the polling stations, he said.
“The Election Commission [of Pakistan] should promptly address the matter and issue necessary directives to relevant authorities,” the letter said.
PK-16 Lower Dir-III constituency is located in the K-P district Lower Dir.
Timergara city is the district’s headquarters. This district was formed in 1996, when Dir District was divided into Upper Dir and Lower Dir districts. Kamranzeb Khan is the PPP candidate for PK-16, Lower Dir-III constituency.
Over the years, PK-16 has seen shifts in political alignments and party affiliations, reflecting the evolving preferences and priorities of its electorate.
Candidates from different political parties have vied for the opportunity to represent the constituency, advocating for issues ranging from infrastructure development to education and healthcare.
The constituency has also faced challenges typical of many rural areas in Pakistan, including issues related to governance, poverty, and access to basic amenities.
Efforts by successive governments and local representatives have aimed to address these challenges and improve the quality of life for residents of PK-16.
Despite its challenges, PK-16 has remained an integral part of K-P’s political landscape, with its residents actively participating in the democratic process to elect representatives who can effectively advocate for their interests at the provincial level.
LHC stops ECP from issuing NA-128 results
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has ordered to not releasef the election result for NA-128. This action follows a plea filed by Salman Akram Raja, an independent candidate supported by the PTI. His plea was lodged against alleged irregularities in the outcome of NA-128 in Lahore, where he was lost to IPP candidate Awn Chaudhry.
Additionally, the court has issued a notice to both parties, including the Election Commission, scheduling a hearing for February 12. Justice Ali Baqir Najfi presided over the hearing and subsequently made a decision based on Salman Akram Raja’s request.
Salman Akram Raja had to face defeat at the hands of IPP candidate Awn Chaudhry in Lahore’s key NA-128 constituency, according to unofficial results.
Awn Chaudhry bagged 172,576 votes whereas Salman Akram Raja could manage to secure 159,024 votes.
