Page 72 - Pakistan

Pak temporarily suspends mobile services as voting begins for general polls

Pakistanis on Thursday began voting in the general elections to elect a new government to rule the cash-strapped country amid speculation that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's PML-N may emerge as the largest party in Parliament as it is backed by the powerful military. The polling started at 8.00 AM and will continue without any break till 5.00 PM. A countrywide public holiday has been declared to enable a total of 128,585,760 registered voters to cast their votes. The counting will start soon after the conclusion of the voting. Nearly 650,000 security personnel have been deployed across the country as more than 12.85 crore registered voters will cast their ballots at 90,000 polling stations. Pakistan has decided to temporarily suspend the mobile service due to the threat of militancy. With former prime minister Imran Khan in jail, Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is tipped to emerge as the single largest party in the elections.

Twin blasts targeting election offices kill 30 in Pakistan's Balochistan

At least 25 people were killed and 42 others injured on Wednesday in two devastating bomb blasts targeting election offices in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, a day before the general elections in the coup-prone country. In the first incident, a powerful blast outside the office of independent candidate Asfandyar Khan Kakar in Pishin district killed 17 people and wounded 30 others. Less than an hour later, another bomb blast took place outside the election office of a Jamiat-Ulema Islam-Pakistan in the Killa Abdullah area claiming the lives of eight people and injuring 12 others. Abdullah Zehri, a senior police official in Balochistan Panjgur, said that the blast outside the election office of candidate Asfandyar Khan Kakar was detonated remotely and was placed in a bag outside the building. The condition of some of the injured is critical and they have been rushed to Quetta for treatment, he said. He said so far the body count from the blast was 17 but the casualties cou

Pakistan elections on Feb 8: Country's turbulent poll history. 10 points

Pakistan elections: Pakistan's political landscape always remains shadowed by its military influence, which is considered a driving force behind the polls

Pakistan elections amid political, economic turmoil tomorrow: Details here

Pakistan Elections 2024: The country is set to go for polling to elect its 16th National Assembly on February 8. This comes at a time when it is facing several issues

Blast outside independent candidate's office in Pak's Balochistan kills 12

At least 12 people were killed and several others injured in a powerful bomb blast outside the election office of an independent candidate in Pakistan's Balochistan province, a day before the general elections. The blast happened outside the office of independent candidate Asfandyar Khan Kakar located in Khanozai area of Pishin district in Balochistan. "There was a powerful bomb blast today outside the office of independent candidate Asfandyar Khan Kakar. In the incident, at least 12 people were killed and several others were injured," Abdullah Zehri, a senior police official in Pangur, said. Police said that the bomb was apparently left in a bag outside the election office of the candidate and was later detonated by a remote timer. Police did not divulge more information as the matter was being probed. Violence has been at its peak in Balochistan in the lead-up to the 8th February General Elections in Pakistan. On Tuesday also ten grenade attacks were carried out at security pos

Pakistan elections: How women candidates are fighting for change in polls?

Data reveals that of the 17,000 candidates contesting the February 8 polls in Pakistan, only 839 are women

From jail, Imran Khan asks supporters to wait by poll stations after vote

Any large-scale gathering of Khan's supporters near booths could raise tensions because of what they call a military-backed crackdown on him and his party that has restricted campaigning

On the cusp of elections, Pakistan needs to get past 'lock him up' politics

The generals should also have learned by now - from Sharif's longevity, if nothing else - that you only further boost a Pakistani leader's career by trying to remove him or her from political process

266 fishermen in foreign jails, govt trying to secure release: Rupala

As many as 266 Indian fishermen are languishing in foreign jails, the government on Tuesday said, adding that efforts are being made to secure their early release. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said, "As per the information available with the Ministry of External Affairs, there are 266 Indian fishermen languishing in foreign jails". "There are 41 fishermen went from Tamil Nadu in Sri Lanka, 184 fishermen went from Gujarat in Pakistan, 10 fishermen in Bahrain and 31 fishermen in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the minister said. As per the data available, 1,172 fishing boats from Gujarat and 87 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu are under the custody of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, respectively. "The Government attaches highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. As soon as cases of apprehension of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats are reported, immediate steps are taken by Indian Missions an

Economic pessimism hits record in Pakistan ahead of election on Feb 8

Some 70 per cent of Pakistanis said the economic situation around them is getting worse, the highest level in the 18 years that Gallup has been polling them

Pakistan Election Commission ready for Feb 8 Polls with EMS setup

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) concluded setting up the Election Management System (EMS) and election monitoring on Monday

Pak EC disqualifies Shah Mahmood Qureshi from contesting polls for 5 years

Pakistan's election commission has disqualified Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a close aide of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, from contesting elections for five years after the former foreign minister was sentenced to 10 years each in prison for leaking state secrets. The disqualification of Qureshi, 67, comes five days before the February 8 general elections, which Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is contesting despite a state crackdown and without its famous election symbol, the bat. The announcement comes days after a special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, awarded Qureshi 10 years imprisonment in the high-profile cypher case along with Khan. Citing the special court's judgement dated January 30, 2024, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that any convicted individual, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, cannot participate in elections, The Express Tribune reported. As a consequence, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has become disqualifie

Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi get 7-year jail in 'un-Islamic marriage' case

A Pakistan court on Saturday sentenced jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to seven years imprisonment in the un-Islamic nikah' case. Bibi's first husband, Khawar Maneka, had filed the case, alleging that she violated the Islamic practice of observing the mandatory pause or Iddat between two marriages.

US issues travel advisory for citizens ahead of Feb 8 elections in Pakistan

The US has issued a travel advisory for American citizens visiting Pakistan and asked them to exercise caution ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 8, and also warned of potential poll-related violence. The US Embassy in Pakistan on Friday issued an advisory and asked its citizens to remain vigilant and aware of the locations of political rallies occurring in areas they intend to visit. The advisory said on February 8, election day, areas around polling stations may be crowded and US citizens not eligible to participate in Pakistan's elections should avoid them. The mission noted that political parties in Pakistan were campaigning actively, such as taking out marches, rallies, and speeches, which are intrinsic to any democratic process. However, it further said that such public gatherings have the potential to block traffic, disrupt transportation and create obstacles to free movement and safety. The advisory also cautioned that in some instances, political activit

Ahead of Pak general elections, minority Hindus feel left out of process

Ahead of the February 8 general elections in Pakistan, members of the minority Hindu community feel they are mostly left out of the poll process despite having a notable presence, especially in the southern Sindh province. The census showed that Hindus account for just 2.14 per cent of the total population in Muslim-majority Pakistan and in Sindh itself their large concentration means they account for nearly nine per cent. Under Pakistan's Constitution, 10 seats are reserved for members of minority communities in the National Assembly and 24 seats in the provinces. Leaders and members of the Hindu community rue the fact that they are not given proper representation and many are not even registered as voters. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, the Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, noted that the Hindu community, especially those belonging to the lower economic sector or those living in remote villages in Sindh feel left out of the election process. In the national census carried o

Recently announced organisational elections of Imran Khan's party postponed

The party has fielded independent candidates for the next week's elections

Imran Khan challenges rejection of his nomination papers for Feb 8 polls

In his plea, Khan urged the apex court to declare him eligible to contest the elections from the two constituencies, Geo News reported

Toshakhana case: Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi sentenced to 14 years

It comes just a day after Khan and his foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for the breach of state secrets

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years in jail in Cipher case

Cipher case: Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former foreign minister, was also sentenced along with Khan

Indian curbs to propel Pakistan's rice exports towards record high

Pakistan's exports could jump to 5 million metric tons in 2023/24 financial year, up from the last year's 3.7 million tons, Kewlani said