Pakistan has momentarily halted mobile services across the country for the general elections. 
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsIslamabad police have enforced a curfew in the capital, prohibiting public gatherings as election results continue to come in. Islamabad police issued a statement saying, “In case of any illegal action, action will be taken. Respect for the law is mandatory for everyone. Legal action will be taken in case of any disturbance.” Candidates supported by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party seemed to be performing much better than anticipated in Pakistan’s election count, according to projections, maintaining a significant lead over the party of favorite Nawaz Sharif. Election results have experienced significant delays overnight, causing frustration and panic among voters who claimed it was due to ballot rigging. Since this morning, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has been announcing results for the 265 contested seats in parliament on its website. The election commission attributed the long delay to an unspecified “internet issue” while the PTI party alleged that the “overwhelming mandate of the people of Pakistan is being stolen”. Independent candidates, most of them backed by Mr. Khan, have secured about 60 seats while Mr. Sharif’s PML-N is behind with about 40 seats, according to Geo TV projections. The Pakistan Peoples Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is closely trailing with 31 seats so far. Any party requires 133 seats in parliament for a simple majority, but many analysts believe the vote may not produce a clear winner. Key PointsShow latest update 1707483618Imran Khan-backed independents still lead with half results in Results from over half the constituencies in Pakistan are in and independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan have won the most seats so far. Of the 136 seats that have declared as of Friday evening, of a total 235 contested, 49 seats were won by independent candidates supported by Khan’s PTI party, a Reuters tally of results declared by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) showed. Trailing closely in second was former premier Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 42, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto, have 34. Almost 24 hours have passed since the Election Commission announced the end of voting. Initially expected in the small hours of Friday morning, the results have been unusually delayed, as the authorities blamed technical issues for the delay. Arpan Rai on February 9th, 2024 13:00 1707481839Winning party has a ‘rocky road ahead’As candidates backed by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party have taken a shocking lead, Maya Tudor, associate professor at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford believes a win for PTI-backed candidates would be remarkable. “A win would be remarkable. The odds were stacked against Khan. The military used every tool in the toolbox to weaken the power of the PTI party, from banning their cricket bat symbol to an internet blackout on voting day,” she was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera. “But even if PTI-backed candidates can win, the road ahead is rocky. A shaky economy, conflict on almost every border, and soaring inflation, which is being felt everyday by ordinary Pakistanis. “If there is no clear winner, the uncertainty will add to these woes.” Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 12:30 1707480957ICYMI: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan raises alarm over election result delayThe Lahore-based Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has said it “deplores” the delay in announcing the election results. In a statement posted on X, it said: “HRCP deplores the delay in announcement of #election results, which, under Rule 84 of the Election Rules, should have been communicated by the returning officers to the @ECP_Pakistan by 2 AM this morning and made public shortly thereafter. “If, under the Rules, the returning officers had incomplete results by this time, they were legally bound to tell the ECP why, also indicating which vote counts were still awaited. This lack of transparency is deeply concerning. Moreover, we see no plausible reason to attribute this delay to any extraordinary circumstances that might justify it.” At the moment, PTI-backed independents are in the lead with PML-N and PPP close behind. Baqir Sajjad, Pakistan fellow at the Washington-based Wilson Center think tank, wrote on X: “What’s happening in Pakistan with election results is unfortunate. The escalation of discontent does not paint a promising picture for the country’s future. It’s saddening to witness deliberate efforts to intensify these feelings for petty interests.” Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 12:15 1707479157Pakistan’s choice at election: The lion, the millennial or the cricketerDespite a crackdown against one of its most popular parties and doubts over the role of the powerful military establishment, there is an air of anticipation regarding Pakistan’s election. Arpan Rai reports: Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 11:45 1707478257Pakistan polls 2024: What you need to know about candidates, key issues and what this election means for the countryPakistanis headed to the polls to elect a new parliament on Thursday in a race that essentially boils down to top few parties: Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 11:30 1707477817Pakistan’s information minister claims there was no internet blockade on election dayPakistan’s minister of information, Murtaza Solangi said on Friday that internet services were not blocked in the country on 8 February despite cyber watchdogs claiming that mobile phone services and internet access were disrupted across the country on Thursday. “The suspension of internet services was not introduced in Pakistan […] it has happened in the US, Britain and even our neighboring country,” he stated. “No one has fought terrorism as much as we have,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn. Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 11:23 1707477359Pakistan election credibility already marred by internet blackout and slow count amid anxious wait for resultsWith results slowly trickling in, analysts say the past two years of political turmoil show the Pakistani military’s grip on power is as tight as ever. Shweta Sharma reports: Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 11:15 1707477331Human Rights Commission of Pakistan raises alarm over election result delayThe Lahore-based Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has said it “deplores” the delay in announcing the election results. In a statement posted on X, it said: “HRCP deplores the delay in announcement of #election results, which, under Rule 84 of the Election Rules, should have been communicated by the returning officers to the @ECP_Pakistan by 2 AM this morning and made public shortly thereafter. “If, under the Rules, the returning officers had incomplete results by this time, they were legally bound to tell the ECP why, also indicating which vote counts were still awaited. This lack of transparency is deeply concerning. Moreover, we see no plausible reason to attribute this delay to any extraordinary circumstances that might justify it.” At the moment, PTI-backed independents are in the lead with PML-N and PPP close behind. Baqir Sajjad, Pakistan fellow at the Washington-based Wilson Center think tank, wrote on X: “What’s happening in Pakistan with election results is unfortunate. The escalation of discontent does not paint a promising picture for the country’s future. It’s saddening to witness deliberate efforts to intensify these feelings for petty interests.” Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 11:15 1707476459Winning party has a ‘rocky road ahead’As candidates backed by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party have taken a shocking lead, Maya Tudor, associate professor at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford believes a win for PTI-backed candidates would be remarkable. “A win would be remarkable. The odds were stacked against Khan. The military used every tool in the toolbox to weaken the power of the PTI party, from banning their cricket bat symbol to an internet blackout on voting day,” she was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera. “But even if PTI-backed candidates can win, the road ahead is rocky. A shaky economy, conflict on almost every border, and soaring inflation, which is being felt everyday by ordinary Pakistanis. “If there is no clear winner, the uncertainty will add to these woes.” Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 11:00 1707475803ICYMI: Google Doodle marks Pakistan’s 2024 national elections8 February’s Google Doodle depicts a ballot box with the Pakistan flag with a vote being posted for the next parliament:Read the full article here: Maroosha Muzaffar on February 9th, 2024 10:50
