Pakistan temporarily suspends mobile services nationwide for general elections
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At least nine people were killed in Pakistan in poll-related violence and attacks as the country’s 240 million population votes to elect their new parliament and prime minister in high-stake elections.
The attack took place in northwest Pakistan’s Dera Ismail Khan as gunmen set off a bomb and then opened fire at a police van, police officials said. At least two others were injured in the attack.
Khalid Khan, local police official, said casualties include officers assigned to security duty in the district for the parliamentary elections. No one claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Mobile network and data services have also been blocked in several parts of Pakistan as voters complained of no internet reception outdoors.
The elections, already hit by accusations of rigging and unfair conditions for main opponent Imran Khan, are seeing at least 44 political parties vying for a share of the 266 seats that are up for grabs in the National Assembly, or the lower house of parliament.
An additional 70 seats are reserved for women and minorities in the 336-seat house.
Voting started at 8am local time as polling stations opened for both national and provincial assemblies and is set to conclude by 5pm.
ICYMI: What is Imran Khan’s appeals process following two new major convictions?
Pakistan‘s former prime minister Imran Khan will take his long-drawn legal fight to the higher courts, his party says, after he was found guilty in two different cases just a week before the country’s general election.
Mr Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were each awarded jail terms of 14 years on Wednesday for illegally selling gifts worth more than £395,000 from the state treasury, known as the “Toshakhana”, during his premiership. He was also barred from holding public office for 10 years and they were fined approximately £2.2m each.
Full report:
ICYMI: Internet and mobile phone services shut in Pakistan in ‘ominous start’ to election day
ICYMI: Nawaz Sharif neighbourhood echoes cheers for Imran Khan
In the Nawaz Sharif stronghold of Lahore, there was nonetheless a robust turnout for Imran Khan’s party.In the Ghauri Shahu neighborhood, Kashfa Zain said she left the house at 6:30 a.m. to make sure she was on time to cast her vote for one of Khan’s candidates.
“My kids were impressing on me how important it was to get here early. The kids are making such an effort with this election. They know all about it. They are all voting for PTI,” as Khan’s party is known, she said.Her daughter Ilham, 19, studied the party’s policies and figures on Instagram, including which candidates were using which symbols. “They went through it several times,” Kashfa Zain said.
Sharif’s supporters appeared to express less enthusiasm and determination, even in his own constituency. One voter said he had to vote for the family because they were his neighbors and he saw them almost every day.
“They are good for the economy. They are good for industry,” said photographer Shahrukh Bhatti. “They have good controls on foreign exchange. But people are so demoralized about this vote,” he said, throwing his hands up as a sign of helplessness.“It’s being controlled by outside forces,” he said, a reference to the country’s military, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its history and still ultimately decides who comes to power.
ICYMI: Nine killed as violence mars Pakistan election
At least nine people, including two children, were killed in militant attacks in Pakistan today as the country voted in a general election after suspending mobile phone services and closing some land borders to maintain law and order.
The interior ministry said it took the security steps after at least 26 people were killed in two explosions near electoral candidates’ offices in the southwestern province of Balochistan on Wednesday. Islamic State later claimed responsibility for those attacks.
“As a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country precious lives have been lost, security measures are essential to maintain the law and order situation and deal with possible threats,” the ministry said in a post on messaging platform X.
Thousands of troops were deployed on the streets and at polling stations across the country as voting commenced and borders with Iran and Afghanistan were temporarily closed.
Despite the heightened security, five policemen were killed in a bomb blast and firing on a patrol in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district in the northwest, authorities said. Another person died in firing on a security forces vehicle in Tank, about 40 km (25 miles) to the north.
ICYMI: UN rights body expresses alarm at ‘pattern of harassment’ of Imran Khan’s party ahead of Pakistan polls
“We are disturbed…by the pattern of harassment, arrests and prolonged detentions of leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and their supporters, which has continued during the election period,” said Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for human rights.
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Bilawal Bhutto Zardari: The millennial ex-minister bidding to become Pakistan’s youngest ever PM
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Pakistan’s choice at election today: The lion, the millennial or the cricketer
Despite 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:
Imran Khan’s demise has been swift and brutal – but it would be a mistake to write him off
Just a few years ago the former cricketer had successfully conquered Pakistan’s tumultuous political landscape – now he’s facing 14 years behind bars. Yet all is not lost for the man who once made even the country’s feared military fall into line, writes Omar Waraich
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ICYMI: What you need to know about candidates, key issues and what this election means for the country
Pakistan‘s 127 million voters get to elect a new parliament today. The elections are the twelfth in the country’s 76-year history, which has been marred by economic crises, military takeovers and martial law, militancy, political upheavals and wars with India.
Forty-four political parties are vying for a share of the 266 seats that are up for grabs in the National Assembly, or the lower house of parliament, with an additional 70 seats reserved for women and minorities.
Full report:
Military likely to have big say in election outcome - analyst
The military has dominated the nuclear-armed country either directly or indirectly in its 76 years of independence but for several years it has maintained it does not interfere in politics.
"The deciding factor is which side the powerful military and its security agencies are on," said Abbas Nasir, a columnist. "Only a huge turnout in favour of (Khan’s) PTI can change its fortunes."
He added: "Economic challenges are so serious, grave, and the solutions so very painful that I am unsure how anyone who comes to power will steady the ship."
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2024-02-09 00:30:00Z
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